Manish Sisodia House Raided Archives - Lokmarg

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)

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Manoj Nagpal, a former leader of Aam Aadmi Party, says only those who toe the party line blindly can prosper in the party

I joined Aam Aadmi Party in 2020 after a political vacation of six years. Before that I had worked for the BJP Youth wing until 2014. I did not feel comfortable in the BJP due to factionalism and favouritism, so I decided to join the party that emerged from the anti-corruption movement.

But soon I realised that the AAP is also awash with corruption. I resigned from each and every post on August 20th when the Deputy CM Manish Sisodia’s house was raided by CBI on allegations of his involvement in the liquor scam.

I would have resigned much earlier when my protest against allotment of license to a liquor vendor in Beriwala Bag, Subhash Nagar in April 2022 went unheard. Instead I was lured and intimidated. As per the new excise policy, the liquor vendor in my ward was ineligible for license because the shop was located within 100 meters of a temple.

When I first objected, I was told by the party that the distance is 102 meters. A coaching institute also operated nearby. People were scared of the vendor. You cannot change the sentiment just with a difference of two meters. It was illegal as it violated the policy.

We sat on a dharna in front of the liquor shop in April 2022. I had the support of women from well to do families. AAP leaders accused me of bribing the demonstrators. I met with the CM and Deputy CM but it seemed every one of them was in a hurry to get the liquor shop running. Then I moved to the High Court. It accepted my petition and ordered the administration to do a formal measurement of distance between the temple and liquor vend.

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I had already got it done officially and it came out to be 92 meters. Now it is to be done on court’s order. The next date of hearing is September 15th in this case. Before that the liquor scam got exposed. I could not resist the inner voice and tendered my resignation on the very same day Sisodia was raided.

This is not the lone case. You can go out and see where liquor license have been given. There are many more cases of violation. The government knew that finally Manish Sisodia will be booked for the flawed excise policy. Even Arvind Kejriwal knew this. That is why nothing was recovered from Sisodia’s house. They had managed everything in advance. The probe order from L-G was based upon a report by the Chief Secretary. This report was made under the CM’s supervision. He is a smart man. He never leaves anyone who comes in his way. Sisodia is just the next one in line who may be arrested sooner or later. But that would not change the ways of AAP leadership.

Being in the party and speaking up against it is very difficult because the leadership is expert in launching smear campaign against those who cross the party line. Yahan parikrama karne wale ki chalti hai, parakram karne wale ki nahin (Those who show spine will not be allowed to work in AAP). Common workers, volunteers and slum dwellers, who are AAP’s core voters, all are now fed up with the leadership. They are voiceless and choiceless.

This liquor scam will cost AAP in upcoming assembly elections due the internal unrest. We have seen the complete state unit of AAP switching over to BJP. In Gujarat the media was speculating around fifteen seats for AAP but now they have come to just a couple of seats.

As told to Abhishek Srivastava

Disclaimer: The views expressed by the narrator are his own. LokMarg does not subscribe to any person or party’s views expressed here. This webzine only lends a platform to voices from all walks of society

Tag: Manish Sisodia House Raided

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