Team News Riveting
New Delhi, August 19
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia is among 15 persons accused in its FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the alleged excise duty scam.
The premier investigating agency today raided at multiple locations across several states, UTs including Sisodia’s residence in Delhi. The CBI has listed 15 accused including Sisodia in its FIR on the alleged excise scam, officials said.
CBI earlier in the day seized incriminating documents and electronic devices from the residence of Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister. Simultaneous raids were going on at 20 other places in seven states.
The probe agency further added in the FIR that a liquor trader paid Rs 1 crore to a company managed by an associate of Sisodia for the framing and implementation of the excise policy 2021-22.
The CBI teams also conducted the raids at the house of former Excise Commissioner E. Gopikrishan, four public servants and others.
Earlier in the day, Sisodia claimed that he was innocent and the CBI was working at the behest of the Centre.
Meanwhile, Congress said the “relentless misuse” of investigation agencies against political rivals erodes its credibility and can help the corrupt to get away. However, its Delhi leaders said the raids exposed the AAP leader’s “corrupt face”.
Delhi Congress leader Alka Lamba said Sisodia should face the action by the probe agency instead of “running away” to the cool climes of Himachal Pradesh. She also claimed the “corrupt face” of the self-acclaimed “truly honest” minister of the Aam Aadmi Party today stands exposed.
She also accused Sisodia of ignoring norms in opening liquor vends in the national capital and thrusting the youth into liquor by reducing the legal age for drinking from 25 to 21 years.
