News Analysis India

Tag: Manish Sisodia

  • Delhi Excise Scam: ED raids 30 locations pan-India excluding Sisodia’s house

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI: As part of its ongoing probe, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting raids at multiple locations across the country in connection with the Delhi Excise policy scam case.

    According to sources, the raids are being conducted at more than 30 locations excluding Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s house.

    “We are conducting raids in Lucknow in UP, Gurugram in Haryana, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and other locations. The searches, which started early this morning, are underway,” they said.

    The ED case is based on the FIR of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

    The CBI has made Sisodia accused number one in its FIR. The CBI’s FIR has been lodged under sections 120-B (Criminal Conspiracy) and 477-A (Falsification of accounts) of the IPC. The allegations against him are that liquor businessmen were allegedly given an exemption of Rs 30 crore. The licence holders were allegedly given extensions according to their own will. The policy rules were made by violating excise rules.

    Besides, it has also alleged the liquor businessmen were given an exemption of Rs 30 crore, while the licence holders were given an extension as per their own will.

    It also said that Sisodia and a few liquor barons were actively involved in managing and diverting the undue pecuniary advantage collected from liquor licensees to public servants, who have been accused in the case.

    “Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Arva Gopi Krishna, the then Commissioner (Excise), Anand Tiwari, the then Deputy Commissioner (Excise), and Pankaj Bhatnagar, Assistant Commissioner (Excise) were instrumental in recommending and taking decisions pertaining to excise policy for the year 2021-22 without the approval of competent authority with an intention to extend undue favours to the licensee post tender,” read the FIR, which has been accessed by IANS.

    NEW DELHI: As part of its ongoing probe, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting raids at multiple locations across the country in connection with the Delhi Excise policy scam case.

    According to sources, the raids are being conducted at more than 30 locations excluding Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s house.

    “We are conducting raids in Lucknow in UP, Gurugram in Haryana, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and other locations. The searches, which started early this morning, are underway,” they said.

    The ED case is based on the FIR of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

    The CBI has made Sisodia accused number one in its FIR. The CBI’s FIR has been lodged under sections 120-B (Criminal Conspiracy) and 477-A (Falsification of accounts) of the IPC. The allegations against him are that liquor businessmen were allegedly given an exemption of Rs 30 crore. The licence holders were allegedly given extensions according to their own will. The policy rules were made by violating excise rules.

    Besides, it has also alleged the liquor businessmen were given an exemption of Rs 30 crore, while the licence holders were given an extension as per their own will.

    It also said that Sisodia and a few liquor barons were actively involved in managing and diverting the undue pecuniary advantage collected from liquor licensees to public servants, who have been accused in the case.

    “Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Arva Gopi Krishna, the then Commissioner (Excise), Anand Tiwari, the then Deputy Commissioner (Excise), and Pankaj Bhatnagar, Assistant Commissioner (Excise) were instrumental in recommending and taking decisions pertaining to excise policy for the year 2021-22 without the approval of competent authority with an intention to extend undue favours to the licensee post tender,” read the FIR, which has been accessed by IANS.

  • Sisodia alleges BJP wants all Delhi govt schools to be shut down for private players

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday claimed the BJP has started “weaving a new fabricated story” of corruption in the construction of Delhi government schools to target him after the CBI could not find anything against him in the excise policy case.

    Addressing a press conference, he also claimed the BJP was bringing up such a ‘fake story of corruption’ under ‘a conspiracy’ to close down all government schools and pave the way for the opening of private schools in the national capital.

    Sisodia called the BJP a “party of illiterates” and alleged at least 72,000 government schools in the states ruled by the saffron party have been closed in the past seven years to make way for the opening of private schools.

    ALSO READ | My clothes and even kid’s clothes raided by CBI during 14-hour but found nothing: Sisodia

    Sisodia’s claims came a day after Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena sought a report from the chief secretary over a delay of more than two-and-half years in acting on a Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) report on an inquiry into the construction of additional classrooms in government schools.

    The report, which found gross irregularities and procedural lapses in execution of the projects, was sent by the CVC to the vigilance secretary in February 2020, seeking comments for further investigation and action.

    “Leaving aside the issue of liquor, they have now started raising a new fabricated story of scam in construction of Delhi government school buildings since yesterday,” Sisodia told the press conference, without referring to the LG’s directive to the chief secretary.

    Sisodia termed all the allegations of corruption against him as ‘lies’ and alleged it was the BJP’s ploy to close down all the government schools in the city to pave the way for the opening of private schools.

    “They are doing this under a conspiracy as the Delhi government schools have been providing quality education to its students with a world-class standard of pedagogy, state-of-the-art buildings and other infrastructure,” he claimed.

    “The Kejriwal dispensation is being ‘appreciated’ all over the world for transforming the Delhi government schools,” he said.

    “They are worried that people will start raising questions on their model of education which promotes opening of private schools if they understand that it is possible to improve the performance of government schools and make them better than the private schools. They want to ruin the country,” Sisodia added.

    The Deputy Chief Minister said the BJP can get the CBI conduct another raid at his residence if it wants to do so but the Aam Aadmi Party will not let the saffron party “shut a single school in Delhi”.

    ALSO READ | We have recording of BJP’s offer to Sisodia, will release it when time comes: AAP sources 

    “I am not scared of raids and cases,” he said.

    Citing government data, Sisodia said that at least 72,000 government schools have been closed in the BJP-ruled states in the last seven years to make way for 12,000 private schools, while the Kejriwal government built 700 new school buildings in the national capital since 2015.

    “BJP worked on a mission mode to shut government schools. As many as 51,000 schools were shut between September 2018-September 2019 itself,” he claimed.

    He said the Delhi government has spent money on providing schools with state-of-the-art buildings and other infrastructure.

    “Cost will increase when you spend money on building amazing schools with good tiles, good desks and washrooms. It is the government’s responsibility to provide good schools to children,” he said.

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday claimed the BJP has started “weaving a new fabricated story” of corruption in the construction of Delhi government schools to target him after the CBI could not find anything against him in the excise policy case.

    Addressing a press conference, he also claimed the BJP was bringing up such a ‘fake story of corruption’ under ‘a conspiracy’ to close down all government schools and pave the way for the opening of private schools in the national capital.

    Sisodia called the BJP a “party of illiterates” and alleged at least 72,000 government schools in the states ruled by the saffron party have been closed in the past seven years to make way for the opening of private schools.

    ALSO READ | My clothes and even kid’s clothes raided by CBI during 14-hour but found nothing: Sisodia

    Sisodia’s claims came a day after Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena sought a report from the chief secretary over a delay of more than two-and-half years in acting on a Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) report on an inquiry into the construction of additional classrooms in government schools.

    The report, which found gross irregularities and procedural lapses in execution of the projects, was sent by the CVC to the vigilance secretary in February 2020, seeking comments for further investigation and action.

    “Leaving aside the issue of liquor, they have now started raising a new fabricated story of scam in construction of Delhi government school buildings since yesterday,” Sisodia told the press conference, without referring to the LG’s directive to the chief secretary.

    Sisodia termed all the allegations of corruption against him as ‘lies’ and alleged it was the BJP’s ploy to close down all the government schools in the city to pave the way for the opening of private schools.

    “They are doing this under a conspiracy as the Delhi government schools have been providing quality education to its students with a world-class standard of pedagogy, state-of-the-art buildings and other infrastructure,” he claimed.

    “The Kejriwal dispensation is being ‘appreciated’ all over the world for transforming the Delhi government schools,” he said.

    “They are worried that people will start raising questions on their model of education which promotes opening of private schools if they understand that it is possible to improve the performance of government schools and make them better than the private schools. They want to ruin the country,” Sisodia added.

    The Deputy Chief Minister said the BJP can get the CBI conduct another raid at his residence if it wants to do so but the Aam Aadmi Party will not let the saffron party “shut a single school in Delhi”.

    ALSO READ | We have recording of BJP’s offer to Sisodia, will release it when time comes: AAP sources 

    “I am not scared of raids and cases,” he said.

    Citing government data, Sisodia said that at least 72,000 government schools have been closed in the BJP-ruled states in the last seven years to make way for 12,000 private schools, while the Kejriwal government built 700 new school buildings in the national capital since 2015.

    “BJP worked on a mission mode to shut government schools. As many as 51,000 schools were shut between September 2018-September 2019 itself,” he claimed.

    He said the Delhi government has spent money on providing schools with state-of-the-art buildings and other infrastructure.

    “Cost will increase when you spend money on building amazing schools with good tiles, good desks and washrooms. It is the government’s responsibility to provide good schools to children,” he said.

  • My clothes and even kid’s clothes raided by CBI during 14-hour but found nothing: Sisodia

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Off to a stormy start, the one-day special session of the Delhi Assembly on Friday, which is currently underway saw sloganeering in the House by both the AAP and the BJP pitched against each other over the controversy surrounding the Delhi excise policy with deputy speaker Rakhi Birla asking the security to marshal out the opposition leaders for the entire day of the session. 

    The special session has been called by the Delhi government to discuss the CBI probe in the Delhi excise policy 2021-22 as well as BJP allegedly trying to buy out AAP MLAs. 

    Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, also holding the excise, education and finance portfolios, in his address to the House termed the CBI fir against him “fake” and alleged that the  BJP-ruled Centre was acting like a “serial killer” to topple state governments led by other parties including the AAP. 

    He began his speech with the day the CBI raided his residence on August 19, which was also the day Janamashti (birth of Lord Krishna) was celebrated this year and that he was ready to go visit a temple with his family members to offer prayers when the CBI reached his doorstep. “It was the day of the festival and had started on a great note with someone sending me on my WhatsApp, a clip of the front page of The New York Times (NYT) having published a story with a large photo of the good work done by the Delhi government in its schools. Just then as I was rejoicing in the moment, I was told by my staff that CBI officers are at the gate to search my house. I was taken aback as to why would the CBI want to search my house when I haven’t done anything wrong… Conduct 1000 more raids, you will find nothing,” said Sisodia. 

    Sisodia said CBI officers searched his residence for 14 hours at a stretch including his clothing his kid’s clothes, bedding etc, but they could not find a single thing that would indicate any wrongdoing or corruption. clothes and even his children’s clothes during the 14-hour raid at his house but found nothing. “They searched my office even as the Delhi Secretariat was closed on account of gazetted holiday for Janmashtami. I have only taken Delhi’s education forward, which is the only thing I am guilty of,” he said. 

    At a time when the work done in the education sector in the national capital is being appreciated globally, the BJP-ruled Centre is not able to “digest this”, said Sisodia. 

    Calling the BJP-led Centre “insecure”, he said that they cannot see any development work being done by any other party or government. 

    A few days later, he said, someone called him to say that he may be in on a long haul with the allegations in the excise policy and will have to suffer for years. “This person said that I could be saved and even made the chief minister if I cause a rift in the AAP and break away from them,” Sisodia alleged. 

    He further said that he joined politics, not to hold any posts, but only to do good work that helps people. 

    This was even as BJP leaders sat outside the House in protest holding placards demanding the ouster of Sisodia from the Cabinet.

    NEW DELHI: Off to a stormy start, the one-day special session of the Delhi Assembly on Friday, which is currently underway saw sloganeering in the House by both the AAP and the BJP pitched against each other over the controversy surrounding the Delhi excise policy with deputy speaker Rakhi Birla asking the security to marshal out the opposition leaders for the entire day of the session. 

    The special session has been called by the Delhi government to discuss the CBI probe in the Delhi excise policy 2021-22 as well as BJP allegedly trying to buy out AAP MLAs. 

    Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, also holding the excise, education and finance portfolios, in his address to the House termed the CBI fir against him “fake” and alleged that the  BJP-ruled Centre was acting like a “serial killer” to topple state governments led by other parties including the AAP. 

    He began his speech with the day the CBI raided his residence on August 19, which was also the day Janamashti (birth of Lord Krishna) was celebrated this year and that he was ready to go visit a temple with his family members to offer prayers when the CBI reached his doorstep. “It was the day of the festival and had started on a great note with someone sending me on my WhatsApp, a clip of the front page of The New York Times (NYT) having published a story with a large photo of the good work done by the Delhi government in its schools. Just then as I was rejoicing in the moment, I was told by my staff that CBI officers are at the gate to search my house. I was taken aback as to why would the CBI want to search my house when I haven’t done anything wrong… Conduct 1000 more raids, you will find nothing,” said Sisodia. 

    Sisodia said CBI officers searched his residence for 14 hours at a stretch including his clothing his kid’s clothes, bedding etc, but they could not find a single thing that would indicate any wrongdoing or corruption. clothes and even his children’s clothes during the 14-hour raid at his house but found nothing. “They searched my office even as the Delhi Secretariat was closed on account of gazetted holiday for Janmashtami. I have only taken Delhi’s education forward, which is the only thing I am guilty of,” he said. 

    At a time when the work done in the education sector in the national capital is being appreciated globally, the BJP-ruled Centre is not able to “digest this”, said Sisodia. 

    Calling the BJP-led Centre “insecure”, he said that they cannot see any development work being done by any other party or government. 

    A few days later, he said, someone called him to say that he may be in on a long haul with the allegations in the excise policy and will have to suffer for years. “This person said that I could be saved and even made the chief minister if I cause a rift in the AAP and break away from them,” Sisodia alleged. 

    He further said that he joined politics, not to hold any posts, but only to do good work that helps people. 

    This was even as BJP leaders sat outside the House in protest holding placards demanding the ouster of Sisodia from the Cabinet.

  • Assam court summons Manish Sisodia in Himanta’s defamation case 

    By PTI

    GUWAHATI: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was on Tuesday summoned by a court in Assam to appear in person before it on September 29 in a criminal defamation case filed by the northeastern state’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

    The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Kamrup, Monmee Sarma, issued the summons to Sisodia for allegedly making defamatory statements against Sarma.

    Sisodia, referring to media reports at a press conference in New Delhi on June 4, had said that while the Assam government procured PPE kits for Rs 600 a piece from other companies, Sarma gave urgent supply orders to the firms of his wife and son’s business partners for Rs 990 a piece.

    Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the wife of the Assam chief minister, had on June 21 filed a Rs 100-crore defamation case against the Delhi deputy CM, who had alleged corruption in giving PPE supply contracts at above market rates.

    The chief minister had on August 5 recorded his statement before the court regarding his case against Sisodia.

    On June 1, two digital media organisations — New Delhi-based ‘The Wire’ and Guwahati-based ‘The Crosscurrent’ — in a joint investigative report claimed that the Assam government had placed four COVID-19 related emergency medical supply orders, most likely without following proper process.

    Citing a series of Right to Information replies, the medial portals claimed that all the four orders, placed between March 18 and March 23 of 2020, were bagged by three firms owned by Bhuyan Sarma and the family’s business associate Ghanshyam Dhanuka.

    She later uploaded a statement on her Twitter account, just hours after the report was published, and dismissed any wrongdoing in supplying the PPE kits to the NHM, claiming that she did not take a “single penny” for the kits.

    The present Assam government and Sarma have separately denied all charges that the chief minister’s family was involved in the alleged malpractices and termed the allegations by the two digital media as “false, imaginary, malicious and of vested interests”.

    The present Assam chief minister was the health minister in 2020 during the first BJP-led state government.

    Opposition parties — Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) Liberation, RCPI, TMC, Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad and Anchalik Gana Morcha — have demanded a CBI probe into the alleged corruption in giving contracts to Sarma’s wife and family business friend to supply PPE kits above market rates.

    GUWAHATI: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was on Tuesday summoned by a court in Assam to appear in person before it on September 29 in a criminal defamation case filed by the northeastern state’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

    The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Kamrup, Monmee Sarma, issued the summons to Sisodia for allegedly making defamatory statements against Sarma.

    Sisodia, referring to media reports at a press conference in New Delhi on June 4, had said that while the Assam government procured PPE kits for Rs 600 a piece from other companies, Sarma gave urgent supply orders to the firms of his wife and son’s business partners for Rs 990 a piece.

    Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the wife of the Assam chief minister, had on June 21 filed a Rs 100-crore defamation case against the Delhi deputy CM, who had alleged corruption in giving PPE supply contracts at above market rates.

    The chief minister had on August 5 recorded his statement before the court regarding his case against Sisodia.

    On June 1, two digital media organisations — New Delhi-based ‘The Wire’ and Guwahati-based ‘The Crosscurrent’ — in a joint investigative report claimed that the Assam government had placed four COVID-19 related emergency medical supply orders, most likely without following proper process.

    Citing a series of Right to Information replies, the medial portals claimed that all the four orders, placed between March 18 and March 23 of 2020, were bagged by three firms owned by Bhuyan Sarma and the family’s business associate Ghanshyam Dhanuka.

    She later uploaded a statement on her Twitter account, just hours after the report was published, and dismissed any wrongdoing in supplying the PPE kits to the NHM, claiming that she did not take a “single penny” for the kits.

    The present Assam government and Sarma have separately denied all charges that the chief minister’s family was involved in the alleged malpractices and termed the allegations by the two digital media as “false, imaginary, malicious and of vested interests”.

    The present Assam chief minister was the health minister in 2020 during the first BJP-led state government.

    Opposition parties — Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) Liberation, RCPI, TMC, Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad and Anchalik Gana Morcha — have demanded a CBI probe into the alleged corruption in giving contracts to Sarma’s wife and family business friend to supply PPE kits above market rates.

  • Sisodia ready to go behind bars but won’t bow down: AAP after ED registers money laundering case

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: After the Enforcement Directorate registered a money laundering case over the Delhi excise policy, the AAP on Tuesday said it had to happen as Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia rejected the BJP’s offer to join it to free himself from charges in the matter.

    Sisodia is ready to go behind bars but he would not “bow down” before the BJP, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) added.

    Official sources said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case to probe alleged irregularities in the excise policy allegedly involving Sisodia and others.

    The federal agency has filed the case under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after taking cognisance of a CBI FIR that has named Sisodia and 14 others.

    Reacting to the news about the registration of the case by the ED, AAP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said in a tweet in Hindi, “This had to happen. They (from BJP) had threatened Manish ji that if he does not join the BJP, the ED case will also be registered and he will be sent to jail,” 

    “Manish ji is ready to go to jail but not ready to bow down,” he added.

    The CBI had conducted raids in the case last week and had covered the Delhi residence of Sisodia and several other locations across seven states and Union Territories.

    Sisodia holds multiple portfolios in the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government including that of excise and education.

    The ED will probe if alleged irregularities were done in the formulation and execution of the Delhi excise policy brought out in November last year.

    Sisodia on Monday claimed that he was “offered the CM’s post” by the BJP and closure of all cases if he quit AAP and joined the saffron party.

    The BJP hit back, accusing him of trying to deflect attention from the corruption charges.

    NEW DELHI: After the Enforcement Directorate registered a money laundering case over the Delhi excise policy, the AAP on Tuesday said it had to happen as Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia rejected the BJP’s offer to join it to free himself from charges in the matter.

    Sisodia is ready to go behind bars but he would not “bow down” before the BJP, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) added.

    Official sources said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case to probe alleged irregularities in the excise policy allegedly involving Sisodia and others.

    The federal agency has filed the case under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after taking cognisance of a CBI FIR that has named Sisodia and 14 others.

    Reacting to the news about the registration of the case by the ED, AAP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said in a tweet in Hindi, “This had to happen. They (from BJP) had threatened Manish ji that if he does not join the BJP, the ED case will also be registered and he will be sent to jail,” 

    “Manish ji is ready to go to jail but not ready to bow down,” he added.

    The CBI had conducted raids in the case last week and had covered the Delhi residence of Sisodia and several other locations across seven states and Union Territories.

    Sisodia holds multiple portfolios in the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government including that of excise and education.

    The ED will probe if alleged irregularities were done in the formulation and execution of the Delhi excise policy brought out in November last year.

    Sisodia on Monday claimed that he was “offered the CM’s post” by the BJP and closure of all cases if he quit AAP and joined the saffron party.

    The BJP hit back, accusing him of trying to deflect attention from the corruption charges.

  • ED registers money laundering case to probe alleged irregularities in Delhi Excise policy 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate has registered a money laundering case to probe alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise policy allegedly involving Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and others, official sources said Tuesday.

    The federal agency has filed the case under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after taking cognisance of a CBI FIR that has named Sisodia and 14 others.

    The CBI had conducted raids in the case last week on August 19 and had covered the Delhi residence of Sisodia, 50, that of IAS officer and former Delhi excise commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna and 19 other locations across seven states and Union Territories.

    Sisodia holds multiple portfolios in the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government including that of excise and education.

    The ED will probe if alleged irregularities were done in the formulation and execution of the Delhi Excise Policy brought out in November last year.

    The scheme came under the scanner after Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena last month recommended a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the implementation of Delhi’s Excise Policy 2021-22.

    He also suspended 11 excise officials in the matter.

    Sisodia too demanded a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the policy.

    The CBI inquiry was recommended on the findings of the Delhi chief secretary’s report filed in July showing prima facie violations of the GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR)-1993, Delhi Excise Act-2009 and Delhi Excise Rules-2010, officials said.

    The ED, during its probe, will analyse if individuals and companies who were involved in the policy-making of this scheme and related entities generated any “proceeds of crime under the definition of PMLA” and if there was any possible creation of illegal or benami assets, sources said.

    The agency has powers to attach such assets and question, arrest and prosecute those who indulge in the offence of money laundering.

    According to officials, the chief secretary’s report had shown prima facie violations, including “deliberate and gross procedural lapses”, to provide post-tender “undue benefits to liquor licensees” through the policy.

    It is alleged that undue financial favours were extended to liquor licensees after the tenders were awarded, causing loss to the exchequer.

    The excise department gave a waiver of Rs 144.36 crore to the licensees on the tendered licence fee on the excuse of COVID-19, sources claimed.

    They added that it also refunded the earnest money of Rs 30 crore to the lowest bidder for the licence of the airport zone when it failed to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from airport authorities.

    “It was in gross violation of rule 48(11)(b) of the Delhi Excise Rules, 2010, which clearly stipulates that the successful bidder must complete all formalities for the grant of the licence, failing which all deposits made by him shall stand forfeited to the government,” a source said.

    The Excise Policy 2021-22, formulated on the basis of an expert committee report, was implemented on November 17 last year and retail licences were issued under it to private bidders for 849 vends across the city, divided into 32 zones.

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate has registered a money laundering case to probe alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise policy allegedly involving Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and others, official sources said Tuesday.

    The federal agency has filed the case under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after taking cognisance of a CBI FIR that has named Sisodia and 14 others.

    The CBI had conducted raids in the case last week on August 19 and had covered the Delhi residence of Sisodia, 50, that of IAS officer and former Delhi excise commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna and 19 other locations across seven states and Union Territories.

    Sisodia holds multiple portfolios in the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government including that of excise and education.

    The ED will probe if alleged irregularities were done in the formulation and execution of the Delhi Excise Policy brought out in November last year.

    The scheme came under the scanner after Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena last month recommended a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the implementation of Delhi’s Excise Policy 2021-22.

    He also suspended 11 excise officials in the matter.

    Sisodia too demanded a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the policy.

    The CBI inquiry was recommended on the findings of the Delhi chief secretary’s report filed in July showing prima facie violations of the GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR)-1993, Delhi Excise Act-2009 and Delhi Excise Rules-2010, officials said.

    The ED, during its probe, will analyse if individuals and companies who were involved in the policy-making of this scheme and related entities generated any “proceeds of crime under the definition of PMLA” and if there was any possible creation of illegal or benami assets, sources said.

    The agency has powers to attach such assets and question, arrest and prosecute those who indulge in the offence of money laundering.

    According to officials, the chief secretary’s report had shown prima facie violations, including “deliberate and gross procedural lapses”, to provide post-tender “undue benefits to liquor licensees” through the policy.

    It is alleged that undue financial favours were extended to liquor licensees after the tenders were awarded, causing loss to the exchequer.

    The excise department gave a waiver of Rs 144.36 crore to the licensees on the tendered licence fee on the excuse of COVID-19, sources claimed.

    They added that it also refunded the earnest money of Rs 30 crore to the lowest bidder for the licence of the airport zone when it failed to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from airport authorities.

    “It was in gross violation of rule 48(11)(b) of the Delhi Excise Rules, 2010, which clearly stipulates that the successful bidder must complete all formalities for the grant of the licence, failing which all deposits made by him shall stand forfeited to the government,” a source said.

    The Excise Policy 2021-22, formulated on the basis of an expert committee report, was implemented on November 17 last year and retail licences were issued under it to private bidders for 849 vends across the city, divided into 32 zones.

  • Amid Delhi Excise Policy row, Kejriwal, Sisodia to interact with youth on second day of Gujarat visit

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia will on Tuesday interact with youth in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar city on the issues of education and employment on the second day of their visit to the state where elections are due later this year.

    On Monday, the two Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders participated in a programme in Himmatnagar where they interacted with voters.

    AAP national convener Kejriwal and Sisodia, who is the education minister of Delhi, will hold a town hall meet on education and employment on Tuesday with youth from Gujarat in Bhavnagar, a state party official said.

    They have offered several guarantees to voters in Gujarat if their party comes to power in the state.

    After guarantees like free electricity, freedom from “raid raaj” for businessmen, Rs 3000 per month unemployment allowance, 10 lakh government jobs and Rs 1000 per month to women above the age of 18, Kejriwal on Monday promised free and quality healthcare to all, like his government has ensured to the people of Delhi.

    Kejriwal has been on a campaigning spree in Gujarat.

    He has visited the state five times in August so far.

    He started the month by campaigning at Veraval in Gir Somnath district and Rajkot.

    During his next visit, he interacted with the trader community in Jamnagar and tribals at Bodeli in Chhota Udepur district.

    He later held a town hall meet in Ahmedabad, and then at Bhuj in Kutch during two separate visits.

    ALSO READ | Sameer Mahendru: From CBI witness in 2013 graft case to accused in Delhi excise ‘scam’

    Kejriwal, who is also the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener, expressed apprehension that Sisodia may be arrested soon.

    Sisodia is among 15 people and entities named in an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Delhi excise policy.

    However, Kejriwal came out in strong defence of his deputy, who holds education and finance among a host of key portfolios in the Delhi government.

    “The New York Times has lauded our education model,” Kejriwal, on his fifth visit in a month to poll-bound Gujarat, said in Ahmedabad, referring to an article in the reputed US daily on transformation of schools in the national capital under the AAP government.

    Instead of appreciating Sisodia, he is being targeted, Kejriwal told reporters here.

    “Don’t you feel ashamed to make the CBI conduct raids on a man who did wonders in five years, did what existing political parties could not do in 70 years and made government schools the best. Such a man should get the Bharat Ratna (India’s highest civilian award),” the CM said.

    The AAP chief expressed apprehension Sisodia may be arrested soon.

    “Manish Sisodia may be arrested; who knows I may also be arrested. All this is being done in view of the Gujarat Assembly elections,” he said.

    Kejriwal said the people of Gujarat are “sad” and are bearing the brunt of the “arrogance” of the BJP regime of the last 27 years in the state.

    He promised quality education and health care to the people of Gujarat if the AAP comes to power in the state, where the Assembly polls are due by the year-end.

    Defending the Delhi government’s liquor policy, Kejriwal said they were forced to change it.

    “A total 850 (liquor) shops had to open in Delhi. But only 350 shops could open, 500 shops could not open. The way the Centre and all agencies started pressuring our officers, they said no to auctioning new shops. The LG (Lieutenant Governor), police, and central agencies were putting pressure. The policy is very good, and we are ready to debate with anyone,” he said.

    ALSO READ | Delhi Excise Policy row: CBI denies sending LOC to Sisodia; BJP says handcuffs getting closer to Kejriwal

    Sisodia and Kejriwal are on a two-day visit to Gujarat to reach out to voters ahead of the Assembly polls scheduled for later this year.

    Addressing a joint conference in Ahmedabad, Kejriwal and Sisodia “guaranteed” free and quality education and healthcare in poll-bound Gujarat along the lines of Delhi if the AAP was voted to power.

    Sisodia said good education is the right of every child in Gujarat, irrespective of whether he lives in a village, or city, or studies in a government or private school.

    Kejriwal promised free and quality healthcare to all in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

    “If voted to power, the AAP government will set up clinics like ‘mohalla’ clinics of Delhi at village and ward levels and improve the infrastructure of government hospitals to compete with private hospitals. The AAP government will also implement the Delhi scheme of free treatment for accident victims,” Kejriwal said.

    At the presser, Kejriwal introduced Sisodia as the “world’s best education minister” quoting a New York Times report.

    “We assure to provide the best education system to every child born in Gujarat as we have done in Delhi. I appeal to all to give Arvind Kejriwal a chance if you want Gujarat to progress and move forward. The Aam Aadmi Party and CM Kejriwal guarantee to provide a free and best education system in Gujarat,” Sisodia said.

    Kejriwal also addressed a townhall meeting in Himmatnagar town of Sabarkantha district, where he sought to position the contest between the BJP and the AAP in the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls as a “Dharamyudh” like the Mahabharat where the ruling outfit has the “armies” of probe agencies CBI and the ED on its side, while his party has the “support of Lord Krishna”.

    ALSO READ | Delhi Excise Policy row: Mehbooba Mufti slams Congress for anti-AAP protests; Congress MP hits back

    Kejriwal compared the BJP with the Kauravas, the defeated villains of the Mahabharat, and his side as the Pandavas, the victorious heroes of the Hindu epic.

    He claimed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Gujarat is yearning for a change and the AAP has received immense support from people.

    This was the reason why the CBI raided the home of Sisodia in connection with the Delhi excise policy a few days ago, the AAP’s national convener said.

    Sisodia who was also present in the town hall programme.

    “This is a Dharamyudh (religious war) like the Mahabharat,” Kejriwal said, and narrated the story of how Duryodhan (from Kauravas) and Arjun (from Pandavas) approached Lord Krishna for support before the 18-day war began.

    Arjun said he wanted Lord Krishna on his side, while Duryodhan sought his army, the CM said.

    “Today, these people (a reference to BJP) have all the armies, power, the CBI, the ED (Enforcement Directorate), the Income Tax, police and a lot of money. We have Shree Krishna with us. We have God with us. And in the end truth, God will prevail. God resides in the hearts of people, they are God. They (BJP) may harass us, but people are with us,” he said at the town hall organised by the AAP as part of its election campaign.

    Kejriwal said his government in Delhi has implemented far-reaching reforms in education and healthcare which were not seen in 75 years of Independence.

    He said Gujarat wants a change after 27 years of the BJP rule.

    “So far Gujarat did not have an alternative. Now, they have got a good, honest alternative, and people want good works to be done in the state like what all are being done in Delhi and now Punjab (also ruled by AAP),” said the bureaucrat-turned-politician.

    He reiterated his party’s pre-poll promises of providing 10 lakh government jobs, paying Rs 5,000 unemployment dole and Rs 3,000 allowance to women above 18 years of age.

    AHMEDABAD: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia will on Tuesday interact with youth in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar city on the issues of education and employment on the second day of their visit to the state where elections are due later this year.

    On Monday, the two Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders participated in a programme in Himmatnagar where they interacted with voters.

    AAP national convener Kejriwal and Sisodia, who is the education minister of Delhi, will hold a town hall meet on education and employment on Tuesday with youth from Gujarat in Bhavnagar, a state party official said.

    They have offered several guarantees to voters in Gujarat if their party comes to power in the state.

    After guarantees like free electricity, freedom from “raid raaj” for businessmen, Rs 3000 per month unemployment allowance, 10 lakh government jobs and Rs 1000 per month to women above the age of 18, Kejriwal on Monday promised free and quality healthcare to all, like his government has ensured to the people of Delhi.

    Kejriwal has been on a campaigning spree in Gujarat.

    He has visited the state five times in August so far.

    He started the month by campaigning at Veraval in Gir Somnath district and Rajkot.

    During his next visit, he interacted with the trader community in Jamnagar and tribals at Bodeli in Chhota Udepur district.

    He later held a town hall meet in Ahmedabad, and then at Bhuj in Kutch during two separate visits.

    ALSO READ | Sameer Mahendru: From CBI witness in 2013 graft case to accused in Delhi excise ‘scam’

    Kejriwal, who is also the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener, expressed apprehension that Sisodia may be arrested soon.

    Sisodia is among 15 people and entities named in an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Delhi excise policy.

    However, Kejriwal came out in strong defence of his deputy, who holds education and finance among a host of key portfolios in the Delhi government.

    “The New York Times has lauded our education model,” Kejriwal, on his fifth visit in a month to poll-bound Gujarat, said in Ahmedabad, referring to an article in the reputed US daily on transformation of schools in the national capital under the AAP government.

    Instead of appreciating Sisodia, he is being targeted, Kejriwal told reporters here.

    “Don’t you feel ashamed to make the CBI conduct raids on a man who did wonders in five years, did what existing political parties could not do in 70 years and made government schools the best. Such a man should get the Bharat Ratna (India’s highest civilian award),” the CM said.

    The AAP chief expressed apprehension Sisodia may be arrested soon.

    “Manish Sisodia may be arrested; who knows I may also be arrested. All this is being done in view of the Gujarat Assembly elections,” he said.

    Kejriwal said the people of Gujarat are “sad” and are bearing the brunt of the “arrogance” of the BJP regime of the last 27 years in the state.

    He promised quality education and health care to the people of Gujarat if the AAP comes to power in the state, where the Assembly polls are due by the year-end.

    Defending the Delhi government’s liquor policy, Kejriwal said they were forced to change it.

    “A total 850 (liquor) shops had to open in Delhi. But only 350 shops could open, 500 shops could not open. The way the Centre and all agencies started pressuring our officers, they said no to auctioning new shops. The LG (Lieutenant Governor), police, and central agencies were putting pressure. The policy is very good, and we are ready to debate with anyone,” he said.

    ALSO READ | Delhi Excise Policy row: CBI denies sending LOC to Sisodia; BJP says handcuffs getting closer to Kejriwal

    Sisodia and Kejriwal are on a two-day visit to Gujarat to reach out to voters ahead of the Assembly polls scheduled for later this year.

    Addressing a joint conference in Ahmedabad, Kejriwal and Sisodia “guaranteed” free and quality education and healthcare in poll-bound Gujarat along the lines of Delhi if the AAP was voted to power.

    Sisodia said good education is the right of every child in Gujarat, irrespective of whether he lives in a village, or city, or studies in a government or private school.

    Kejriwal promised free and quality healthcare to all in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

    “If voted to power, the AAP government will set up clinics like ‘mohalla’ clinics of Delhi at village and ward levels and improve the infrastructure of government hospitals to compete with private hospitals. The AAP government will also implement the Delhi scheme of free treatment for accident victims,” Kejriwal said.

    At the presser, Kejriwal introduced Sisodia as the “world’s best education minister” quoting a New York Times report.

    “We assure to provide the best education system to every child born in Gujarat as we have done in Delhi. I appeal to all to give Arvind Kejriwal a chance if you want Gujarat to progress and move forward. The Aam Aadmi Party and CM Kejriwal guarantee to provide a free and best education system in Gujarat,” Sisodia said.

    Kejriwal also addressed a townhall meeting in Himmatnagar town of Sabarkantha district, where he sought to position the contest between the BJP and the AAP in the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls as a “Dharamyudh” like the Mahabharat where the ruling outfit has the “armies” of probe agencies CBI and the ED on its side, while his party has the “support of Lord Krishna”.

    ALSO READ | Delhi Excise Policy row: Mehbooba Mufti slams Congress for anti-AAP protests; Congress MP hits back

    Kejriwal compared the BJP with the Kauravas, the defeated villains of the Mahabharat, and his side as the Pandavas, the victorious heroes of the Hindu epic.

    He claimed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Gujarat is yearning for a change and the AAP has received immense support from people.

    This was the reason why the CBI raided the home of Sisodia in connection with the Delhi excise policy a few days ago, the AAP’s national convener said.

    Sisodia who was also present in the town hall programme.

    “This is a Dharamyudh (religious war) like the Mahabharat,” Kejriwal said, and narrated the story of how Duryodhan (from Kauravas) and Arjun (from Pandavas) approached Lord Krishna for support before the 18-day war began.

    Arjun said he wanted Lord Krishna on his side, while Duryodhan sought his army, the CM said.

    “Today, these people (a reference to BJP) have all the armies, power, the CBI, the ED (Enforcement Directorate), the Income Tax, police and a lot of money. We have Shree Krishna with us. We have God with us. And in the end truth, God will prevail. God resides in the hearts of people, they are God. They (BJP) may harass us, but people are with us,” he said at the town hall organised by the AAP as part of its election campaign.

    Kejriwal said his government in Delhi has implemented far-reaching reforms in education and healthcare which were not seen in 75 years of Independence.

    He said Gujarat wants a change after 27 years of the BJP rule.

    “So far Gujarat did not have an alternative. Now, they have got a good, honest alternative, and people want good works to be done in the state like what all are being done in Delhi and now Punjab (also ruled by AAP),” said the bureaucrat-turned-politician.

    He reiterated his party’s pre-poll promises of providing 10 lakh government jobs, paying Rs 5,000 unemployment dole and Rs 3,000 allowance to women above 18 years of age.

  • We have recording of BJP’s offer to Sisodia, will release it when time comes: AAP sources 

    Earlier, Sisodia claimed that he was “offered the CM's post” by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and closure of all cases against him if he quit the AAP and joined the saffron party.

  • Sisodia claims he received message ‘join BJP, will close all cases against you’

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday claimed that he was approached by the BJP with the offer to close all cases against him if he joined their party.

    Asserting that all the allegations against him were false, Sisodia said he will never bow down before “conspirators and corrupt people”.

    Sisodia is among 15 people and entities named in an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Delhi excise policy.

    ALSO READ | Power games: The Anatomy of a Scam

    “I have received a message from the BJP — ‘Leave AAP and join BJP. We will ensure that all cases by CBI and ED against you are shut.’ My reply to BJP — I am a descendant of Maharana Pratap and a Rajput. I am ready to get beheaded but can never bow down before conspirators and corrupt people. All the cases against me are false. Do whatever you want to do,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.

    मेरे पास भाजपा का संदेश आया है- “आप” तोड़कर भाजपा में आ जाओ, सारे CBI ED के केस बंद करवा देंगेमेरा भाजपा को जवाब- मैं महाराणा प्रताप का वंशज हूँ, राजपूत हूँ। सर कटा लूँगा लेकिन भ्रष्टाचारियो-षड्यंत्रकारियोंके सामने झुकूँगा नहीं। मेरे ख़िलाफ़ सारे केस झूठे हैं।जो करना है कर लो
    — Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) August 22, 2022
    The AAP leader’s house was raided on Friday by the CBI over alleged corruption in the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

    He has stressed that the case against him is an effort to stop the good work being done by CM Arvind Kejriwal-led dispensation and also to put obstacles in the path of the AAP chief who has emerged as an alternative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday claimed that he was approached by the BJP with the offer to close all cases against him if he joined their party.

    Asserting that all the allegations against him were false, Sisodia said he will never bow down before “conspirators and corrupt people”.

    Sisodia is among 15 people and entities named in an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Delhi excise policy.

    ALSO READ | Power games: The Anatomy of a Scam

    “I have received a message from the BJP — ‘Leave AAP and join BJP. We will ensure that all cases by CBI and ED against you are shut.’ My reply to BJP — I am a descendant of Maharana Pratap and a Rajput. I am ready to get beheaded but can never bow down before conspirators and corrupt people. All the cases against me are false. Do whatever you want to do,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.

    मेरे पास भाजपा का संदेश आया है- “आप” तोड़कर भाजपा में आ जाओ, सारे CBI ED के केस बंद करवा देंगे
    मेरा भाजपा को जवाब- मैं महाराणा प्रताप का वंशज हूँ, राजपूत हूँ। सर कटा लूँगा लेकिन भ्रष्टाचारियो-षड्यंत्रकारियोंके सामने झुकूँगा नहीं। मेरे ख़िलाफ़ सारे केस झूठे हैं।जो करना है कर लो
    — Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) August 22, 2022
    The AAP leader’s house was raided on Friday by the CBI over alleged corruption in the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

    He has stressed that the case against him is an effort to stop the good work being done by CM Arvind Kejriwal-led dispensation and also to put obstacles in the path of the AAP chief who has emerged as an alternative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

  • Look Out Circular against eight accused in liquor scam

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  The CBI on Sunday issued Look Out Circulars (LOC) against eight private individuals named in its first information report on the Delhi liquor policy scam, including Vinay Nair and Dinesh Arora, who are currently abroad.

    The agency is likely to issue LOCs against the remaining seven accused later, including Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Well-placed sources said CBI sleuths have parked themselves around the official residence of Sisodia, who is scheduled to fly to Gujarat on Monday.

    Nair, former CEO of Only Much Louder, an event management company that managed several comedy shows like All India Bakchod, has conveyed to the CBI that he is in the US for some personal work and would join the probe once he is back. He is also a member of the AAP. Airports have been put on alert about his and Arora’s arrival.

    Arora and Arjun Pandey, who was formerly associated with a news channel, are alleged close associates of Sisodia, who were allegedly actively involved in managing and diverting kickbacks from liquor licensees for the accused bureaucrats. It is alleged that Radha Industries managed by Dinesh Arora received `1 crore from Sameer Mahendru of Indo-Spirits.

    Besides, Arun Ramchandra Pillai, said to be part of the liquor mafia, allegedly used to collect slush money from Mahendru for onward transmission to the accused public servants through Vijay Nair. Arjun Pandey has once collected about `2-4 crore from Sameer on behalf of Nair.

    The CBI has also summoned Amit Arora, the alleged linkman in the nexus, for its second round of questioning on Wednesday. On Saturday, he was questioned for two-and-a-half hours but he “remained largely quiet”, sources said.

    Arora is a director in 15 companies based in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. He is a co-founder of a famous Mexican restaurant, Dos Burros, located at DLF Cyber City in Gurgaon. It was Amit Arora and Ankur Mahajan who opened Dos Burros in 2015.

    Sources said Amit Arora, is director in Omlogic Digital Media Pvt Ltd, Aralias Retail Pvt Ltd, VD Restaurants Pvt Ltd, Samannat Retail Pvt Ltd, Buddy (T-1d) Retail Pvt Ltd, Buddy Retail Pvt Ltd, Buddy Hospitality Pvt Ltd, Magnolias Retail Pvt Ltd, Eastman Builders Pvt Ltd, Aralias Hospitality Pvt Ltd, Buddy’s People Resources Pvt Ltd, KSJM Spirits, Blue Smoke Beverages and SAS Alcobev.

    Arora’s partner Ankur Mahajan is based in Jammu. He is director in 10 companies across Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. Most of Mahajan companies are related to automobiles. However, he is associated with Arora in liquor and hospitality business. Arora did not respond to this newspaper’s queries about his links with netas, babus and liquor barons and the money invested in various firms.

    Enough prima facie proof

    Officials probing the case say there is enough prima facie evidence of violation of regulations. They include financial wrongdoings and non-disclosure of material information under the Companies Act besides spreading misinformation under the IT and other Acts

    Financial dealings of the accused in shares, cryptocurrencies and online gaming platforms are under the CBI lens

    The foreign visits and international remittances for at least 50 individuals, including comic artists, businessmen, social media influencers and those linked to the entertainment industry, are also being probed

    Those under the scanner include various individuals and companies having roots in Hyderabad, which managed to get license for sale of liquor in Delhi

    Companies associated with Vijay Nair include Babblefish and Motherswear. Other companies under probe for being associated with Nair, including through his co-directors, are Weirdass Comedy, Motormouth Writers and Rebellion Management

    Ministry of Corporate Affairs is looking into a maze of corporate entities associated with those named by the CBI

    NEW DELHI:  The CBI on Sunday issued Look Out Circulars (LOC) against eight private individuals named in its first information report on the Delhi liquor policy scam, including Vinay Nair and Dinesh Arora, who are currently abroad.

    The agency is likely to issue LOCs against the remaining seven accused later, including Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Well-placed sources said CBI sleuths have parked themselves around the official residence of Sisodia, who is scheduled to fly to Gujarat on Monday.

    Nair, former CEO of Only Much Louder, an event management company that managed several comedy shows like All India Bakchod, has conveyed to the CBI that he is in the US for some personal work and would join the probe once he is back. He is also a member of the AAP. Airports have been put on alert about his and Arora’s arrival.

    Arora and Arjun Pandey, who was formerly associated with a news channel, are alleged close associates of Sisodia, who were allegedly actively involved in managing and diverting kickbacks from liquor licensees for the accused bureaucrats. It is alleged that Radha Industries managed by Dinesh Arora received `1 crore from Sameer Mahendru of Indo-Spirits.

    Besides, Arun Ramchandra Pillai, said to be part of the liquor mafia, allegedly used to collect slush money from Mahendru for onward transmission to the accused public servants through Vijay Nair. Arjun Pandey has once collected about `2-4 crore from Sameer on behalf of Nair.

    The CBI has also summoned Amit Arora, the alleged linkman in the nexus, for its second round of questioning on Wednesday. On Saturday, he was questioned for two-and-a-half hours but he “remained largely quiet”, sources said.

    Arora is a director in 15 companies based in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. He is a co-founder of a famous Mexican restaurant, Dos Burros, located at DLF Cyber City in Gurgaon. It was Amit Arora and Ankur Mahajan who opened Dos Burros in 2015.

    Sources said Amit Arora, is director in Omlogic Digital Media Pvt Ltd, Aralias Retail Pvt Ltd, VD Restaurants Pvt Ltd, Samannat Retail Pvt Ltd, Buddy (T-1d) Retail Pvt Ltd, Buddy Retail Pvt Ltd, Buddy Hospitality Pvt Ltd, Magnolias Retail Pvt Ltd, Eastman Builders Pvt Ltd, Aralias Hospitality Pvt Ltd, Buddy’s People Resources Pvt Ltd, KSJM Spirits, Blue Smoke Beverages and SAS Alcobev.

    Arora’s partner Ankur Mahajan is based in Jammu. He is director in 10 companies across Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. Most of Mahajan companies are related to automobiles. However, he is associated with Arora in liquor and hospitality business. Arora did not respond to this newspaper’s queries about his links with netas, babus and liquor barons and the money invested in various firms.

    Enough prima facie proof

    Officials probing the case say there is enough prima facie evidence of violation of regulations. They include financial wrongdoings and non-disclosure of material information under the Companies Act besides spreading misinformation under the IT and other Acts

    Financial dealings of the accused in shares, cryptocurrencies and online gaming platforms are under the CBI lens

    The foreign visits and international remittances for at least 50 individuals, including comic artists, businessmen, social media influencers and those linked to the entertainment industry, are also being probed

    Those under the scanner include various individuals and companies having roots in Hyderabad, which managed to get license for sale of liquor in Delhi

    Companies associated with Vijay Nair include Babblefish and Motherswear. Other companies under probe for being associated with Nair, including through his co-directors, are Weirdass Comedy, Motormouth Writers and Rebellion Management

    Ministry of Corporate Affairs is looking into a maze of corporate entities associated with those named by the CBI