Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Lokmarg

CBI Arrests Deputy CM Sisodia In Delhi Excise Policy Case

By LokMarg 26th February 2023

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday arrested Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor excise policy case, after eight hours of questioning.

Shortly before arriving at the CBI office for questioning, the Deputy Chief Minister said false cases are being lodged against leaders of the ruling party as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was “afraid” of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

“Conspiracies are being hatched by the CBI and ED and false cases being lodged against our party leaders because PM Narendra Modi is afraid of CM Arvind Kejriwal’s rising popularity. As AAP grows further, BJP will continue to slap false cases on us. We are not afraid of the CBI, ED and their false cases,” Sisodia said, claiming that people were starting to regard the AAP as an alternative to the BJP.

He said that the PM, while not afraid of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, was scared of the AAP.

“Everyone says that only AAP will rid the country of the BJP in future. Modi-ji may not be scared of Rahul Gandhi but if there’s one party that he is scared, it is the AAP. They will put me in jail, but we are not afraid. We will fight. Kejriwal is the only future leader of this country,” Sisodia said, addressing supporters at Raj Ghat.

He further appealed to Arvind Kejriwal to “keep fighting” for the welfare of the people.

“I want to tell Kejriwal-ji, please continue with what are you doing. Keep fighting for the welfare of the people,” Sisodia said.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers were heard chanting “Modi Mar Gaya” slogans outside Fatehpur Beri Police Station in support of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who appeared before the CBI for interrogation in connection with alleged excise policy scam today.

The Delhi Police had detained 50 workers and leaders of the AAP.

Delhi police said the AAP workers and prominent leaders, including Sanjay Singh, were detained allegedly for violating Section 144 of the CrPC.

“A total 50 persons, including 42 men and 8 women, were detained,” Delhi Police said.

Trilok Puri MLA Rohit Kumar Mehraulia, Sangam Vihar MLA Dinesh Mohnia, Kondli MLA Kuldeep Singh, Rohtash Nagar ex-MLA Sarita Singh and Delhi minister Gopal Rai were among those arrested.

Earlier, the CBI had asked Sisodia to appear for questioning on February 19. On last Sunday, Sisodia requested the central agency to defer questioning saying that he is “preparing the budget” at present and can only appear before it towards February-end.

However, Sisodia has not been named an accused in the chargesheet filed in the case. Arrested businessmen Vijay Nair and Abhishek are among the seven accused named in the chargesheet.

In August last year, the CBI searched Sisodia’s bank locker in connection with the case. The deputy CM claimed the sleuths did not find any incriminating material in his locker.

Several raids were conducted at 21 places in Delhi and the National Capital Region, including Sisodia’s residence, and the premises of four public servants last year, according to a CBI officer, who further said that the raids were conducted across 7 states.

The CBI launched a probe in the matter on the basis of a report forwarded by the Delhi chief secretary to L-G Saxena recommending a probe by the central agency. (ANI)

Sisodia Will Be Arrested On Sunday: Kejriwal

By LokMarg 24th February 2023

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday claimed that his sources have confirmed that Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, who has been called for questioning by the CBI with regard to the Delhi liquor excise policy case, will be arrested on Sunday by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Speaking at the ABP Network’s second edition of ‘Ideas of India’ Summit, Kejriwal said, “CBI has called Manish Sisodia for questioning. Our sources are saying that he will be arrested on Sunday… It is very sad.”
The Delhi Chief Minister further said that the CBI raided Sisodia’s residence and searched his bank lockers, but nothing was found.

“CBI raided Manish Sisodia, searched his bank accounts, raided his house, searched his lockers, raided his office, raided properties in his village but nothing was found,” said the Delhi CM.

Kejriwal said that Sisodia offered hope of a good future to crores of poor children in the country.

Lauding the Deputy Chief Minister for improving the education system in Delhi, Kejriwal said, “Manish Sisodia is the person, who after 75 years of independence has given hope to the poor people of this country that their children can also have a good future. Today in Delhi, the children of the poor are becoming doctors, engineers and lawyers. Manish Sisodia has given a lot of hope to them.”

He claimed that a conspiracy has been hatched to defame such a person by framing him in a false case.

“If you arrest him and put him in jail in a false case, how will the country make progress? If the king of a country will send to jail those who give education to the children of the poor in that country and will hand over the entire country to two four friends, then how will the country progress?” he added.

Kejriwal also said that he first met Sisodia on December 29, 1999, when he was working in the Income Tax department.

Notably, Sisodia on Monday said that the CBI has called him for questioning on February 26 in connection with the Delhi liquor excise policy case.

However, Sisodia has not been named an accused in the chargesheet filed in the case. Arrested businessmen Vijay Nair and Abhishek are among the seven accused named in the chargesheet.

In August last year, the CBI searched Sisodia’s bank locker in connection with the case. The deputy CM claimed the sleuths did not find any incriminating material in his locker.

The CBI launched a probe in the matter on the basis of a report forwarded by the Delhi chief secretary to L-G Saxena recommending a probe by the central agency. (ANI)

Sisodia Pretending To Protect Religious Structures From Demolition: Delhi L-G

By LokMarg 21st February 2023

Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Tuesday alleged that Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia is pretending to protect the unauthorised religious structures from demolition.

“The doublespeak and hypocrisy of Dy CM Manish Sisodia has once against been called out, this time over the issue of demolition of unauthorised religious structures. The unauthorised religious structures that Sisodia is pretending to “protect from demolition”, were actually recommended to be demolished by Sisodia himself which was further approved by CM Arvind Kejriwal and sent to the LG for his nod,” an official note from the Raj Bhavan said.
On Monday, Deputy CM Sisodia appealed to the Delhi L-G to prevent the demolition of temples, mazars, and gurudwaras for infrastructure development projects in the national capital.

Addressing a press conference here at Delhi Secretariat, Sisodia said that these religious structures are visited by lakhs of devotees and have strong emotional connections with people, and their demolition could trigger a law and order situation in the capital.

Sisodia’s appeal came after the Delhi Police released reports regarding the religious structures, recommending that the demolition can cause a riot situation but if it is still necessary, they [Delhi Police] would have to deploy a security force. However, the L-G had claimed that the Delhi government was holding back files related to the demolition of temples, mazars, and gurudwaras, which he claimed was affecting various development projects. A total of 67 temples, six mazars, and one gurudwara have been identified for demolition in 19 files.

While addressing a press conference at Delhi Secretariat
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Deputy CM Manish Sisodia proposed that modifications could be made to the designs of the infrastructure development projects to avoid demolishing these religious structures.

He argued that in an era when modern architecture and technology have advanced, it is possible to modify designs to meet the requirements of the environment, and the same can be done in this case to save the temples, mazars, and gurudwaras. He emphasised that development is essential, but it should not hurt people’s religious sentiments.

The proposed infrastructure projects that identified the religious structures for demolition include the construction of several flyovers, roads, and housing projects by the central government. Structures marked for demolition in Delhi include Sarva Mangal Siddha Peeth, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Dham, and Shyam Math Temple. In addition, 49 temples and one mazar have been identified for demolition under General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) projects of the Central Government in Kasturba Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Srinivaspuri, and Thyagaraj Nagar.

Manish Sisodia urged the Lieutenant Governor to make design changes in the infrastructure projects to avoid the demolition of the religious structures. He emphasised that development is necessary, but it should not be at the cost of hurting people’s religious beliefs.

49 temples and 1 mazar has been marked for demolition in Kasturba Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Srinivaspuri, and Thyagaraj Nagar under GPRA projects of the Central Government. (ANI)

CBI Conducts Raids At Manish Sisodia’s Office

By LokMarg 14th January 2023

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raids are underway at the office of AAP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia at the Delhi Secretariat on Saturday.

“Today again CBI has reached my office. They are welcome. They raided my house, raided my office, searched my locker, and even searched my village. Nothing has been found against me and nothing will be found because I have not done anything wrong. Sincerely worked for the education of the children of Delhi,” tweeted Sisodia in Hindi.

Last year in August, the CBI conducted a search operation at Sisodia’s Punjab National Bank locker in connection with Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 money laundering case, where according to him the CBI had found nothing.

Several raids were also conducted at 21 places in Delhi and the National Capital Region including the residence of Sisodia and the premises of four public servants last year, according to a CBI official. The official said that raids were conducted in locations across 7 states.

The probe was done after taking into account a report forwarded by the Chief Secretary to Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena recommending a CBI investigation into the matter.

The excise policy was passed in Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi Cabinet in the middle of the deadly Delta Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. The Delhi government’s version is that the policy was formulated to ensure the generation of optimum revenue, and eradicate the sale of spurious liquor or non-duty paid liquor in Delhi, besides improving user experience.

Following LG’s recommendation, the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Delhi Police’s Economic Offence Wing (EOW) issued a notice to Delhi’s Excise Commissioner asking him to provide all documents relating to the award of liquor licenses under the new excise policy. (ANI)

Sisodia Accuses BJP Of Trying To Poach AAP Councillors

By LokMarg 7th December 2022

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday alleged that the AAP councillors have started receiving calls from the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), alleging poaching attempt of newly-elected party councillors after the civic poll results.

“BJP’s game has started. Phone calls started coming to our newly elected corporators,” tweeted Manish Sisodia.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia exuded confidence and said that none of the councillors will be “sold”.

“None of our councillors will be sold. We have told all the corporators that if they get a phone call or come to meet them, record them,” tweeted Sisodia.

बीजेपी का खेल शुरू हो गया। हमारे नवनिर्वाचित पार्षदों के पास फ़ोन आने शुरू हो गये।

हमारा कोई पार्षद बिकेगा नहीं। हमने सभी पार्षदों से कह दिया है कि इनका फ़ोन आये या ये मिलने आयें तो इनकी रिकॉर्डिंग कर लें।
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) December 7, 2022

This comes in the wake of AAP’s victory in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

The results of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi have suggested that people are more inclined towards having a double-engine government which binds the ruling party to fulfil their electoral promises.

The high-stakes battle for control over the Delhi Municipal Corporation has ended with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) winning 134 of the total 250 wards in the national capital’s civic body polls, uprooting 15-year rule by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

As the Delhi State Election Commission announced the final results today, AAP won 134 wards while BJP came second with 104 wards. Congress managed to get 9 wards while three wards were bagged by Independents.

The party workers gathered in front of the office and rejoiced, danced and chanted slogans praising party chief Arvind Kejriwal.

The polls for 250 wards in the national capital were held on December 4 with about 50 per cent voter turnout and a total of 1,349 candidates in the fray. However, the low voter turnout did not prove to be an indicator of pro-incumbency.

This was the first civic election after the fresh delimitation exercise. There were 272 wards in Delhi and three corporations – NDMC, SDMC, and EDMC in Delhi from 2012-2022 that later reunified into an MCD that had formally come into existence on May 22. (ANI)

Delhi Excise Policy Case: Sisodia Changed His Mobile Phone 4 Times A Day

By LokMarg 3rd December 2022

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday alleged that Manish Sisodia is “completely involved” in the alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy case and alleged the Delhi Deputy Chief Minister changed four mobile handsets in one day and 14 handsets in two three months after Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) lodged an FIR against him. The BJP alleged that Sisodia did so with the aim to destroy digital evidence.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, the BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “A few days ago, Arvind Kejriwal said that Manish Sisodia has a clean chit. And the scam that has taken place in the excise policy is not a scam because CBI and ED had given clean chit to Manish Sisodia. There is no charge sheet against Sisodia.”
Patra alleged that Sisodia has a big role in Delhi’s excise policy. “He is not just neck deep but he is completely involved in the liquor scam in Delhi,” the BJP leader said.

During the press conference, Patra presented a remand note which he claimed was submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to a Delhi court in which Patra said it is stated that an FIR dated August 17, 2022, was registered by CBI against Manish Sisodia

“A person named Amit Arora had taken and given money in the case. Amit Arora was arrested by the ED and while taking its custody the ED presented these documents in Court. The 32-page remand note shows that the investigation is going on against Manish Sisodia in the excise police scam case. The allegations against him are serious. The ED and CBI had charge-sheeted those arrested. They are preparing full-proof documents on Manish Sisodia. They all have a connection with Manish Sisodia.

“As per the document, an FIR dated August 17, 2022, was registered by CBI against Manish Sisodia. The Office Memo (OM) disclosed that Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, the then Excise Commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna and others were instrumental in giving orders to people in excise policy benefiting few by giving them an undue advantage,” said the BJP leader.

He further alleged that Sisodia might have consulted people to destroy digital evidence in the case.

“Manish Sisodia changed four mobile handsets in one day and 14 handsets in two three months after CBI’s FIR against him. He might have consulted Delhi CM Kejriwal, AAP leader Vijay Nair, liquor scam accused Amit Arora and Sunny Marwah to destroy digital evidence,” the BJP national spokesperson said.

Patra alleged “large-scale destruction of digital evidence” was done by the accused including the ex-excise minister of Delhi Sisodia and that 170 mobile phones were destroyed by the 36 accused in the alleged Delhi liquor scam

The Delhi LG had recommended a CBI inquiry into the findings of the Delhi chief secretary’s report filed in July showing prima facie violations of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR)-1993, Delhi Excise Act-2009, and Delhi Excise Rules-2010, officials had said.

In October, the ED had raided nearly three dozen locations in Delhi and Punjab following the arrest of Sameer Mahendru, Managing Director of Delhi’s Jor Bagh-based liquor distributor Indospirit Group, in the case.

The Excise Department had decided to refund the Earnest Money Deposit of about Rs 30 crore to a successful tenderer against the set rules. Even though there was no enabling provision, a waiver on tendered license fees was allowed from December 28, 2021, to January 27, 2022, due to COVID-19.

This allegedly caused a loss of Rs 144.36 crore to the exchequer, which has been instituted on a reference from the Union Home Ministry following a recommendation from Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena. (ANI)

Sandeep Suicide Case: Can’t Connect It With Ticket, Says Sisodia

By LokMarg 25th November 2022

A day after Aam Aadmi Party leader Sandeep Bhardwaj’s body was found hanging at his residence in the national capital, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday said it was wrong to allege the AAP leader took his life as he was denied a party ticket to contest the upcoming MCD polls.
Meanwhile, the BJP has alleged that Bhardwaj did not die by suicide but he was murdered.

Addressing a press conference here today, the Delhi deputy chief minister Sisodia said, “This is very sad. Sandeep ji was close to me too. He used to play a very important role in the trade wing. You cannot connect the death with ticket, it’s wrong.”

Sisodia was responding to a question that the AAP leader Bharadwaj committed suicide because he was denied ticket to contest the municipal corporation elections.

AAP’s trade wing secretary was found dead at his Rajouri Garden residence on Thursday, police said.

BJP leader Manoj Tiwari today alleged that Bhardwaj did not die by suicide.

“I believe it is not suicide but murder. Sandeep Bhardwaj was assured ticket. Evidence doesn’t make it look like suicide. It’s also coming to the knowledge that a ticket for that seat was sold. Abetting suicide is also like murder. AAP chief and leadership have committed sin,” said Tiwari.

Bhardwaj was taken to “Kukreja hospital” by one of his friends, Delhi Police said.

Delhi Police said that a PCR call was received from Kukreja Hospital, Rajouri Garden at 4.40 pm yesterday about 55 year-old Sandeep Bhardwaj being brought dead due to hanging at his residence.

A crime team reached the spot of the crime and inquest proceedings under section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) were initiated.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal yesterday expressed grief over Bhardwaj’s death and offered his condolences.

“Extremely saddened by the sudden death of Aam Aadmi Party worker Sandeep Bhardwaj in Delhi. May God give his soul a place at his holy feet. My condolences to his family members in this hour of grief and the entire party stands with the family members of Sandeep ji in this difficult time,” tweeted CM Kejriwal.

The polls to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on December 4. (ANI)