The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday named Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia as the top accused among 15 names in its First Information Report (FIR) filed in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case. In the FIR, the CBI has pointed out several irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy for 2021-22.
The CBI alleged that the move to speed up the liquor policy under the new excise regime was initiated without obtaining any permission from the relevant authority to extract financial kickbacks from the liquor licensees. Praveen Kumar Rai, Director, MHA… handed over directions to the competent authority to investigate the matter of irregularities in the formulation and implementation of Excise Policy of GNCTD, Delhi for the year 2021-22 by the Central Bureau of Investigation. He also handed over a letter to L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena citing irregularities in the formulation and implementation of excise duty policy.
An OM is attached to this document stating that Manish Sisodia, Deputy CM; Arva Gopi Krishna, then Commissioner (Excise); Anand Tiwari, then Deputy Commissioner (Excise); and Pankaj Bhatnagar, Deputy Commissioner of Excise, were instrumental in recommending and taking decisions regarding Excise Policy for the year 2021-22 without the approval of the competent authority with the intention of giving undue benefits to the licensees after the tender,” the FIR .
The CBI FIR further mentions the role of individuals associated with the liquor trade in the alleged framework anomalies in the excise policy. “In addition to the above, reliable sources have revealed that Vijay Nair, former CEO of Only Much Louder, an entertainment and event management company; Manoj Rai, former employee of Pernod Ricard; Amandeep Dhal, owner of Brindco Spirits; and Sameer Mahendru, owner of Indospirit, are actively involved in the irregularities in the formulation and implementation of excise duty policy,” it further states.
The allegations take a serious turn as the CBI in its FIR, citing “sources”, alleges that close aides of Sisodia, identified as Amit Arora, director of Buddy Retail Pvt Limited, Gurgaon, Dinesh Arora and Arjun Pandey, were involved in the diversion. funds collected from the liquor lobby, obtained as a result of the change in consumption policy, and the transfer of the proceeds to the accounts of accused government officials.
The FIR further cites a “source” that revealed that some L-1 licensees are “issuing credit notes to retailers with ab-initio intent to divert funds as an undue financial advantage to government employees” and are also “reporting false entries in their books of accounts, to keep their records in order”. “….Amit Arora, Director, Buddy Retail Pvt Limited, Gurgaon; Dinesh Arora and Arjun Pandey are close associates of Manish Sisodia and are actively involved in managing and diverting undue financial benefit received from liquor license holders to the accused government officials.
The source further revealed that Sameer Mahendru, MD, Indospirit transferred an amount of one million to the account of Radha Industries. Radha Industries is managed by Dinesh Arora. The source further revealed that Arun Ramchandra Pillai was collecting undue financial advantage from Sameer Mahendru for further transfer to the accused public servant through Vijay Nair. A person named Arjun Pandey once collected huge cash of about Rs 2-4 lakh from Sameer Mahendra named Vijay Nair,” it said.
The FIR concludes that prima facie facts point to offenses under the Prevention of Corruption Act on the part of the accused. “The above facts prima facie reveal the commission of offenses punishable under Section 120-B, 477A IPC and Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended by 2018) by (the named accused) and other unknown public officials and private persons,” he states.
