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Delhi Excise Policy Case: CBI Reaches Manish Sisodia's Office, Says No 'Raid' But Collecting Some Documents

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are investigating the alleged scam in the formulation and implementation of now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

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Manish Sisodia
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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday reached the office of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the Delhi Excise Policy case. 

Sisodia in a tweet said the CBI was at his office at the Delhi Secretariat. He is under investigation in the alleged Delhi Excise Policy scam.

Sisodia tweeted in Hindi, "CBI has reached my office today. It's welcome. They raided my home and office. They searched my lockers. They even carried out investigation in my village. Nothing was found against me and nothing will be found against me as I have done nothing wrong. I have worked honestly for the education of Delhi's children."

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CBI denies 'raid' or 'search' at Sisodia's office

Though sources in the Delhi government told PTI the CBI was carrying out "searches" at Sisodia's office, the CBI said it just "visited" the office to collect some documents and that no "raid or search" was being carried out. 

The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are investigating the alleged scam in the formulation and implementation of now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. Sisodia is among the several accused. 

The case stems from the recommendation of Delhi Lieutenant Governor, based on Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar's report. The report alleged that Sisodia provided undue benefits to liquor vend licensees in lieu of "kickbacks" and "commissions" that were allegedly used by his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Punjab assembly elections in February 2022, according to The Indian Express.

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The Delhi Excise Case probe so far

Besides Satuday's visit, the CBI earlier questioned the AAP leader in connection with the case for several hours besides conducting raids at his official residence.

The CBI filed its first charge sheet against seven accused on November 25 last year. Sisodia did not figure in the document. 

Officials said investigators have kept the probe open into the alleged role of Sisodia and others named in the First Information Report (FIR).

Arrested businessmen Vijay Nair and Abhishek Boinpally were among the seven accused named in the charge sheet.

The CBI spokesperson said, "Further investigation is continuing to investigate the role of accused named in the FIR and other persons on various allegations including conspiracies with other licensees, money trails, cartelisation and larger conspiracies in the formulation and implementation of the Excise Policy.

"It was further alleged that irregularities were committed including in the modifications in Excise Policy, extending undue favours to the licencees, waiver/reduction in licence fee, the extension of L-1 license without approval, etc.

"It was also alleged that illegal gains on account of these acts were diverted to concerned public servants by private parties by making false entries in their books of accounts."

(With PTI inputs)

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