Liquor policy row: Look out notice against Sisodia, barred from travelling abroad; Centre targeting Arvind Kejriwal, says deputy CM

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has barred Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, accused in the liquor policy case, from travelling abroad. A look out notice has also been issued against Sisodia and 12 others named in the FIR filed by the CBI on liquor policy violations.

Sisodia is the prime accused in the list of 15 people named in the FIR. Offences namely corruption, criminal conspiracy and falsification of documents are listed in the report. Earlier, the CBI had carried out a raid at the residence of Sisodia, who is in-charge of the excise department, over corruption allegations in the liquor policy.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also begun investigation in the liquor policy case. The investigation is being conducted based on the suspicion of money laundering in the implementation of the liquor policy. According to reports, the ED officials have held talks with the CBI about the details of the case.

Last day, the CBI had questioned some private individuals, who played an active role in the implementation of the liquor policy in the state. However, their names have not been revealed yet.

The FIR has been registered against Sisodia's close associates Dinesh Arora, Manoj Rai, Vijay Nair, CEO of a Mumbai-based event management company and Arun Ramachandra Pillai, a resident of Telangana. Following Sisodia’s interrogation, 12 IAS officials of the Delhi government were transferred by the Lieutenant governor.

Meantime, Manish Sisodia said that he could be arrested by the CBI or the ED within three or four days. The leader had launched a scathing attack on the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for misusing central agencies.

“The centre wants to stop Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is also the AAP chief, because they see him as the main challenger to Modi in the upcoming general election in 2024. The 2024 election will be a battle between the AAP and the BJP," said Sisodia. "Excise policy due to which whole controversy is created is the country's best policy. We were applying it with transparency and sincerity. Had Delhi Lieutenant Governor not changed his decision conspiring to fail the policy, Delhi government would've been getting at least Rs 10,000 crore every year”, he added.