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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has issued Look Out Circular (LOC) against the 13 accused, including Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, named in the excise policy case, sources said
Hours after Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia claimed that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has issued Look Out Circular (LOC) against him and other accused named in the case, the agency sources clarified that the process is underway and due procedure is being followed.
Earlier on Sunday, a CBI source said that it had issued LOC against 13 accused in the Excise Policy case. However, another CBI source clarified that the agency is following due process to issue LOC as three officials have also been named in the case. The source further said that the agency is yet to question several other accused named in the case. On Saturday, the agency questioned three people in connection with the case till late evening.
Earlier on Sunday, Sisodia took to Twitter stating, “Your raids have failed to find anything. Now you have issued a LOC. I am roaming freely in Delhi. Tell me where to come.” In another tweet, he also shared an old video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was then Gujarat Chief Minister, hitting out at the CBI.
Commenting on CBI’s LOC against Sisodia, AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj said, “After CBI raid. He was there. Still, there is a look out notice against him. He is not someone to run away. He will fight back.”
The development comes just two days after the probe agency carried out searches at 31 locations, including the premises of Sisodia, who also handles the Excise Department of the Delhi government. During the searches on Friday, the CBI could not locate two of the accused.
If the LOC is issued against the accused, then they will be barred to fly abroad. After a LOC is issued, a letter is sent to Bureau of Immigration to bar the person to travel. A person can only travel abroad after he/she has informed the court and obtained permission from it.
On August 17, the CBI registered a case against Sisodia, Vijay Nair, former CEO of Mumbai-based entertainment and event management company Only Much Louder, besides 13 people across Lucknow, Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai and Karnataka, which includes liquor firm Brindco and Indospirit.
The CBI has also named three public servants, including Arva Gopi Krishna, the then Excise Commissioner and IAS officer, Anand Tiwari, the then Deputy Excise Commissioner, and Pankaj Bhatnagar, Assistant Commissioner (Excise).
The probe agency has also named Sameer Mahendru, Managing Director of Indospirits, Manoj Rai, ex-employee of Lucknow-based Pernod Ricard; Amandeep Dhal, Director of Delhi-based Brindco Sales Pvt. Ltd.; Amit Arora, Director of Buddy Retail Private Limited; Dinesh Arora, Delhi-based Mahadev Liquors; Sunny Marwah, authorised signatory of Mahadev Liquors; Arun Ramchandra Pillai of Karnataka’s Bangalore and Arjun Pandey of Gurgaon.
The CBI’s FIR is based on the complaint received from Lt Governor of Delhi VK Saxena, alleging irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of GNCTD of Delhi for the year 2021-22.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Sisodia said that he may be arrested by the CBI in the next two to four days, but “I am ready to face the challenge. I never indulged in any corruption. I am not wrong, so I don’t worry. The CBI will get nothing”.
