Excise Policy case: CBI conducts searches on Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia's premises

NEW DELHI:

The Central Bureau of Investigation is conducting searches at 21 locations, including the premises of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, in connection with the alleged irregularities in the State government's previous Excise Policy.

The searches, under way in seven States and Union Territory, are also being carried out on the premises of the then Excise Commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna and two more public servants, according to a CBI official.

Confirming that a CBI team had reached his residence, Mr. Sisodia through his Twitter handle said he was disappointed that those doing good work in the country were being harassed. "That is why our country could not become No.1," he said.

Mr. Sisodia, who holds the excise portfolio, said he would cooperate in the probe in order to find the truth, which would be established in court. He said that nothing incriminating had been found against him so far. Stating that earlier the then Health Minister Satyendar Jain was arrested and now he was being targeted, he alleged the action was being taken to stop the good work being done in the areas of education and health in Delhi.

Last month, Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena had recommended a CBI probe into the revamped Excise Policy. According to an assessment report, the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 involved alleged violations and procedural lapses.

It was suspected that the policy led to a loss of over ₹150 crore to the exchequer.

Recently, Lieutenant-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena suspended 11 officials, including the then Excise Commissioner and Deputy Excise Commissioner Anand Kumar Tiwari, in the same matter.