The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday confirmed that it had issued Look Out Circular (LOC) against eight “private” persons in the Delhi excise police scam case. However, there was no clarity from the agency on whether an LOC had been issued against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who has been named as an accused in the FIR.
The LOCs have been issued against Vijay Nair, former CEO of entertainment and event management company Only Much Louder; Amandeep Dhal, Director of Brindco Sales Pvt; Sameer Mahendru, Managing Director of Indospirit Group; Amit Arora, Director of Buddy Retail Private Limited; Sunny Marwah, authorised signatory of Mahadev Liquors; and three private persons Arun Ramchandra Pillai, Arjun Pandey, and Dinesh Arora.
Sisodia had earlier claimed that the CBI had issued an LOC against him and termed the move a "drama" as the agency found "nothing" during a raid at his residence. He said he is "roaming freely" in Delhi and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi if he is unable to find him.
The agency, however, denied his claims and said the LOCs have been issued only against eight “private” persons named in the FIR. The CBI officials said they are still in the process of scrutinising the documents.
News agency PTI quoted the officials as saying that the agency had not felt the need to issue an LOC against public servants so far because they cannot leave the country without intimating the government.
An LOC is issued to ensure that a person wanted by police or any other agency in a particular case does not leave the country. The circular is mostly used at immigration checkpoints at international airports and seaports.
Sisodia is among 15 individuals and entities named in an FIR filed in connection with the alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Delhi government's Excise Policy 2021-22.
The CBI on Friday searched 31 locations including Sisodia's residence in connection with the case.
The agency claims that Sameer Mahendru, the owner of Indospirits, who was one of the liquor traders actively involved in alleged irregularities, made payments worth crores of rupees to a few "close associates" of Sisodia.
The FIR further alleges that these “close associates” of Sisodia were actively involved in managing and diverting the undue pecuniary advantage collected from liquor licensees to the accused public servants.
The AAP claims that the CBI raids are being carried out as the BJP feared Kejriwal and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls will be a battle between the AAP chief and Modi.
"No one is afraid of you Arvind Kejriwal ji. As the nodes of corruption are unravelling, the handcuffs are coming closer. Everyone knows how nervous you are," BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said on Sunday, alleging Kejriwal was busy indulging in corruption when COVID-affected people needed his help.
With PTI inputs
