Governor recommends CBI probe against deputy CM of Delhi

Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Sexena on Friday recommended a CBI probe in the Capital’s revamped excise policy, thus bringing the deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia under lens.

An assessment report prepared by the Chief Secretary reported that the Delhi excise policy 2021-22 was filled with alleged violations and there were deliberate and gross procedural lapses. The report has put the deputy chief minister, who holds the excise portfolio, was under lens for allegedly providing undue financial favours to liquor licensees. 

The report pointed out that the excise department under the direct orders of Sisodia had decided to allow a waiver of Rs 144.36 crores on the tendered license to a liquor cartel during the Covid-19 pandemic period, while hundreds of migrant workers were leaving the city due to lack of employment opportunities.  

The report by the Chief Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor is in accordance with rule 57 of the ToBR 1993, that mandates the Chief Secretary to point out the deviations from the laid down procedures. The report was sent both to the Governor and the Chief Minister. 

While the AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed that the Lieutenant Governor was acting on behalf of the BJP, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal dismissed it as a ploy to target his deputy. 
Proclaiming that the allegations made against the Delhi government are completely false, Kejriwal said that there is not a pinch of truth in the excise policy allegations and they are deliberately escalating the issues because we are honest. 

“We will not stop working. They put Satyendar Jain in prison and now they are planning to put Sisodia behind bars. They will be reprimanded by the court,” he added.