In connection with irregularities in the Delhi government’s excise policy, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducts raids at 21 locations across seven states and union territories, including Deputy Chief of Minister Manish Sisodia’s residence.
Arava Gopi Krishna, a former commissioner of Delhi Excise, and two other bureaucrats’ offices are also the target of agency raids. After filing a case alleging anomalies and irregularities in the now-cancelled Delhi liquor policy, the CBI conducted the raids.
“There is the CBI. They can come in. We are incredibly sincere and committed to securing the future of millions of kids. It is extremely regrettable that those who contribute to our nation are subjected to such abuse. Because of this, our nation has not yet surpassed all others “In Hindi, Sisodia tweeted.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal responded to the news by saying that the CBI’s search of his younger colleague’s home was due to their sterling work, which has received praise from all over the world. He claimed that previous CBI raids had taken place and that nothing would change this time.
According to allegations, Sisodia changed the excise policy without Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal’s consent, allowing a waiver of the tendered licence fee of Rs 144.36 crore due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Delhi Chief Secretary’s report, which was submitted in July, indicated that there were likely violations of the GNCTD Act of 1991, the Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR) of 1993, the Delhi Excise Act of 2009, and the Delhi Excise Rules of 2010.
According to the chief secretary’s report, Sisodia gave liquor licence holders undue advantages by lowering the price of foreign alcohol and removing the 50 rupee import pass fee per case of beer. This resulted in lower prices for consumers, which cost the state exchequer money.
Following that, VK Saxena, the lieutenant governor of Delhi, had advised the CBI to open an investigation into financial irregularities in the overhyped excise policy. A report describing the “role of officers and civil servants in its illegal formulation, amendments, and implementation” was another directive Saxena gave to Delhi’s Chief Secretary.
Following the chief secretary’s completion of the report, Saxena gave his approval for the suspension of 11 officials due to “serious lapses” in the Excise Policy 2021–2022.
Gopikrishna and deputy excise commissioner Anand Kumar Tiwari were among the suspended officials. IAS officer Krishna, a member of the 2012 batch from the AGMUT Cadre, is presently assigned to the Union Territory of Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman Diu. On July 12, 2022, he was relieved of his duties as Delhi Excise Commissioner. Tiwari, a DANICS officer from the 2003 batch, is presently employed by the Delhi Excise department.
