The CBI has been carrying out searches in 21 locations across the country including the premises linked to former Delhi Excise Commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna and former Deputy Commissioner Excise, Anand Tiwari

Photo Credit : Twitter,

New Delhi, August 19

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided the residence of deputy CM of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, in connection with a case registered against him over alleged corruption in rolling out of the liquor policy introduced by Delhi Government, now withdrawn.

The CBI has been carrying out searches in 21 locations across the country. The CBI also searched premises linked to former Delhi Excise Commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna and former Deputy Commissioner Excise, Anand Tiwari.

The Delhi government had introduced the new policy to increase government revenue, improve consumer experience, reduce corruption and redistribute liquor shops in an equitable manner. Under the new policy, implemented in November last year, only private liquor shops were to run in the Capital.

The development comes less than a month after Delhi L-G VK Saxena recommended CBI investigation in the case. 

Following this, the Delhi government had on July 30 announced it was withdrawing the new policy.

The LG’s recommendations had followed a report submitted by Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar on the matter. The report, which officials said was submitted on July 8, accuses Sisodia of providing undue benefits to liquor vend licencees in lieu of “kickbacks” and “commissions”, and the money being used in the recent Punjab elections.

The L-G’s officer had issued a statement few dyas ago stating, “Delhi Chief Secretary submitted a report highlighting procedural lapses and post tender benefits given to licencees. The Delhi L-G has sent recommendations to the Ministry of Home Affairs to get a CBI investigation done into the Delhi Excise Policy”. 

The Chief Secretary’s report had alleged that the “Excise department, under direct orders of Sisodia, decided to allow a waiver of Rs 144.36 crore singularly to the liquor cartel, on the tendered licence fee, under the excuse of the Covid pandemic”.

The report also alleged that decisions taken by the Excise department did not have the approval of the competent authority, which is the Cabinet and, subsequently, the Lt Governor.

Reacting to the CBI raid, DyCM Manish Sisodia tweeted, “CBI has come. I welcome them. We are steadfastly (kattar) honest. Building the future of lakhs of children. It is unfortunate that those who do work in the country are harassed like this. That is why our country has not become number 1 until today,” Sisodia said. The raid comes days after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched a ‘mission’ to ‘Make India number 1’ at a mega event at Delhi’s Talkatora stadium.