Delhi liquor policy scam: Manish Sisodia destroyed 2 phones, pressured officials to grant licences, CBI alleges in chargesheet

According to the supplementary chargesheet filed by the central agency, Manish Sisodia has admitted to destroying two mobile phones, which is considered as  “another incriminating circumstance” against him, reported India Today.

The CBI has also mentioned CA Buchi Babu Gorantla from Hyderabad, liquor trader Amandeep Singh Dhall, and Arjun Pandey in the supplementary chargesheet.

The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has taken cognizance of the CBI's supplementary chargesheet, which includes the names of Manish Sisodia, Buchi Babu, Amandeep Dhall, and Arjun Pandey. All the accused individuals have been summoned to appear in court on June 2.

“Investigation has revealed that from January 1, 2020, to August 18, 2022, Manish Sisodia has used three mobile handsets. Two handsets which were used prior to July 22, 2022 have been admittedly destroyed by Manish Sisodia as confirmed by him in his response to Notice under section 91 CrPC,” the CBI said, as per the India Today report.

The agency added, “Willful disposal of handsets containing incriminating evidence related to the policy is another incriminating circumstance against Manish Sisodia.”

According to the chargesheet, Manish Sisodia was referred to as the "main architect of the GoM report."

The chargesheet also alleged that Sisodia had an "ulterior motive" and intended to gain undue advantage from distributors in exchange for favourable provisions.

“In pursuance of the said criminal conspiracy, private wholesalers were given undue benefit in the form of very high profit margin (increased from 5% to 12%) and a long rope for arm twisting the manufactures for getting undue rebates / incentives by the accused Manish Sisodia with the ulterior motive that these distributors will give undue advantage to him or his close associate and representative Vijay Nair, in lieu of such favourable provisions,” it read.

As per the CBI, it was alleged that Manish Sisodia manipulated the process of soliciting public comments and obtained fabricated emails from the chairman of the minorities commission.

The central agency said, “The Excise Policy 2021-22 was formulated during in May 2021, it was processed and approved by the Council of Ministers through circulation on 21.05.2021, in very hurried manner, despite it being peak of Covid Pandemic.”

According to the CBI, the allegation of a criminal conspiracy regarding the inclusion of favourable provisions in the New Excise Policy was supported by the visit of the accused Vijay Nair to Hyderabad.

The CBI informed the court that certain provisions proposed by the South group were copied word-for-word in the GoM report. The report stated, "WhatsApp chats revealed that provisions for a new designation of Director Wholesale Operations and a provision for having 'Joint Venture' for running Elite Stores/Super Premium stores were verbatim reproduced in the final GoM report dated 22.03.2022, even though they were not mentioned in the draft policy."

The CBI claimed that Manish Sisodia exerted "pressure" on excise officials to grant a license to M/s Indospirits, even though there were pending complaints of cartelization against them.

The probe agency said Buchi Babu Gorantla was an active conspirator of South group, the report said.

“WhatsApp chats retrieved from his phone state that "2-3 visits to Delhi are required for tweaking and freezing the policy",” the chargesheet stated, according to the India Today report.

“Buchi Babu Gorantla was a frequent visitor to New Delhi along with the accused persons of the South Group on crucial dates, when GOM Report was being finalised, when the Draft Excise Policy was being finalized, when tender was floated and when the Letters of Acceptance were being issued to successful bidders,” it added.