New Delhi, July 22 (UNI) Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Friday recommended an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, following a report by the Chief Secretary, which prima facie alleged violations of various acts and rules in addition to 'deliberate and gross procedural lapses,' in orde to provide 'undue benefits' to the liquor licensees.
The Excise department is headed by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
As per sources, LG Saxena had found substantive indications towards “financial quid pro quo” at the top political level, adding that the Excise Minister took 'major decisions,' in violation with the rules and observed that the Excise Policy had 'huge financial implications'.
In response, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal hit out at Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena over his recommendation to initiate a CBI probe against Deputy CM Manish Sisodia in an alleged violation of rules and procedural lapses into the city government's Excise Policy 2021-22.
Addressing a presser here, Kejriwal said the case was fake and fabricated to stall AAP's growth in national politics."We are not scared of jails, not scared of the noose. They have made several cases against our people. AAP has been growing since its win in Punjab. The party's time has come. They cannot see us rise to the national level, thus they are resorting to such measures. But nothing will stop us," the Delhi CM stated.Directing his tirade towards the BJP government at the Centre, Kejriwal said that a new system has evolved in India, where the ruling party decides who should be put behind bars."I have been saying that they will arrest Manish Sisodia. There is a new system in India. They decide who has to be jailed, then a fake case is created against that person. This case is fake. There is no truth in it," he added.Saxena has recommended the CBI inquiry based on Delhi Chief Secretary's report filed earlier this month, showing prima facie violations of GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR)-1993, Delhi Excise Act-2009 and Delhi Excise Rules-2010, according to sources.Sisodia has been alleged for providing undue benefits to liquor licensees. It has also been alleged that AAP may have used this money during the Punjab elections.Sisodia heads the Excise department of the Delhi government. The new excise policy of Delhi came into force this year.Vouching for his over two decades of relationship with Sisodia, the Delhi CM called his subordinate "a true patriot and honest politician.""I’ve known Sisodia for 22 years and I have never seen anyone as honest or as much of a deshbhakt as him. The allegations are totally false," he stated.Kejriwal also noted that his Ministers were being targeted in a pattern since Saxena assumed the office of Delhi L-G."You arrested Satyendra Jain, who was working in the Health sector and now want to put Sisodia, who is making careers and lives of lakhs of children in Delhi, in jail,” he added.
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