NEW DELHI: After almost eight hours of questioning at CBI headquarters on Sunday, Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia was arrested in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the excise policy.Here are a few key developments that took place during the questioning session:What CBI reportedly asked SisodiaDid you call DANICS officer C Arvind to Arvind Kejriwal’s residence and hand over ‘draft GoM’ report?Was there any discussion in GoM meetings about giving wholesale business to private entities?Was it discussed in these meetings that 12% margin will be fixed for private entities?Where were the alleged 6% kickbacks (from the 12% margin) used? How much money was received as kickbacks in total?What’s your relationship with businessmen Amit Arora, Dinesh Arora and Arjun Pandey?What discussions were held with excise commissioner and two other excise officials pertaining to framing of policy?Did you use multiple phones, many of them in another person’s name, during the commission of alleged crime?Was approval of competent authority taken?What CBI’s FIR allegesDeputy CM Manish Sisodia, excise commissioner Arva Gopi Krishna, deputy commissioner Anand Tiwari and assistant commissioner Pankaj Bhatnagar were instrumental in recommending and taking decisions pertaining to excise policy for the year 2021-22 without approval of competent authority, and with an intention to extend undue favours to the licencees after tender.Liquor businessmen Amit Arora, Dinesh Arora and Arjun Pandey are close associates of Manish Sisodia and actively involved in managing and diverting undue pecuniary advantage collected from liquor licensees to accused public servants.Fresh findings by CBIThe profit margin for wholesalers was 5%in earlier policy and Group of Ministers’ (GoM)draft. This was increased to 12% on southlobby’s demandReports of the expert committee onexcise policy were completely changedby constituting a GoM in a calculated mannerby concealing an earlier note from council ofministers in support of the expert committee.A crucial file was missing.‘South lobby’ allegedly paid kickbacks.A top excise official was pressured into toeing the line.Major projects being handled by Sisodia- Budget 2023-24- Rozgaar Budget schemes– Start-up policy, food truckpolicy, redevelopment of iconicmarkets, revamp of food – hubs,cloud kitchens, electronic city,Dilli Bazaar portal, RozgaarBazaar 2.0, green jobs throughsolar policy, among others.- G20 preparations- Construction of new school buildings, Schools of Excellence,teachers training abroad.- Construction of newhospitals, e-health cardfor every citizen, freepathological tests forsenior citizens.- Redevelopment of500km of roads as perEuropean standard.- New excise policyPortfolios handled by SisodiaFinance; planning; home; education; technical and higher education; health; public works; urban development; irrigation and flood control; water; power; vigilance; tourism; industries; labour; excise; art, culture and languages; services; and land and building.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/manish-sisodia-arrest-aap-versus-bjp-cbi-fir-8-hour-questioning-key-developments/articleshow/98262249.cms
