Delhi Deputy-CM Sisodia Dealt Devastating Blow As Centre Greenlights Prosecution Over Heinous Surveillance Of Political Rivals: 2023

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved the prosecution of Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia, in connection with a now-withdrawn excise policy. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are investigating the matter, with Sisodia being one of the primary suspects.

In a significant development in the Feedback Unit (FBU) snooping case, the Ministry of Home Affairs has granted its approval to prosecute Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had requested the sanction to prosecute Sisodia, who also heads the Vigilance department of the Delhi government.

After receiving the request, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena approved the CBI’s request for the sanction to prosecute and forwarded it to the MHA. The Feedback Unit was established under Sisodia’s department in 2015 after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came to power in Delhi.

The FBU snooping case came to light in 2021 when it was alleged that the Delhi government had used the unit to spy on political opponents. The allegations were made by a former employee of the unit who claimed that he was tasked with snooping on leaders of opposition parties.

The CBI had sought the sanction to register an FIR against Sisodia based on these allegations. The approval of the MHA means that the CBI can now proceed with the investigation and prosecute Sisodia if it finds evidence of corruption.

This development is significant as it marks the first time that a senior leader of the AAP has been accused of corruption. The AAP, which came to power in Delhi in 2015 on an anti-corruption platform, has been at the forefront of the fight against corruption in India.

The AAP has not yet responded to the news of the sanction to prosecute Sisodia. However, it is expected that the party will vigorously defend Sisodia and challenge the allegations against him.

In a recent turn of events, a political controversy has arisen after a report by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was involved in political espionage. According to the report, the AAP had set up a unit called the Feedback Unit (FBU) with the aim of gathering information about the functioning of various departments and autonomous institutions under the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD). The FBU reportedly began its operations in 2016, with a budget of Rs. 1 crore allocated for secret service expenditure.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has claimed that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made a proposal to establish a covert agency with extensive powers of snooping and trespass back in 2015. According to the CBI, no agenda note was circulated, and no sanction was obtained from the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) for appointments to the agency, known as the Feedback Unit (FBU).

The L-G, VK Saxena, has approved the CBI’s request and alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had made a “well-conceived attempt” to create an extraneous and parallel covert agency with no legislative, judicial, or executive oversight. Saxena has further criticized the move, stating that it was an attempt to establish an agency with overarching powers without any accountability or transparency.

The allegations made by the CBI and the L-G have raised concerns over the AAP government’s actions and its commitment to democratic principles. The Delhi government has not yet responded to these allegations, and it remains to be seen what actions it will take in response to these accusations.

The establishment of a parallel covert agency with extensive powers has raised questions over the government’s intentions and its commitment to transparency and accountability. It is important for the government to clarify its position and take corrective measures to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future. The people of Delhi have the right to know whether their elected representatives are acting in their best interests or pursuing their own agendas.

The CBI report has sparked a political war, with members of the opposition parties demanding a thorough investigation into the matter. The AAP has denied all allegations of wrongdoing, stating that the FBU was set up solely to gather feedback and information about the government’s functioning, and not for any nefarious purposes.

The controversy has put the AAP government under the scanner, with questions being raised about the transparency and accountability of its actions. The opposition parties have accused the AAP of misusing public funds and using the FBU as a tool to spy on political opponents.

In response, the AAP has called for a fair and impartial investigation into the matter, stating that it has nothing to hide. The government has also clarified that the FBU was set up in accordance with the law, and all its activities were conducted within the ambit of the law.

The controversy surrounding the FBU is likely to continue in the coming days, with political parties on both sides of the aisle digging in their heels and demanding answers. It remains to be seen how the AAP government will respond to the allegations, and whether it will be able to weather the storm of political opposition.

The Delhi government’s former excise policy is under investigation by both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), with Manish Sisodia being one of the primary suspects. Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament, Sanjay Singh, has responded to the news of the MHA’s approval. He has referred to the case against Sisodia as “completely fake,” and has taken the opportunity to question Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Singh has asked Modi, “Why are you so scared of AAP and Arvind Kejriwal, Modi ji?”

Singh has also drawn attention to the lack of investigation against Gautam Adani, the head of the Adani Group. According to Singh, Adani has been involved in scams worth crores of rupees, but has not been investigated. The approval of the prosecution of Sisodia by the MHA is likely to cause further tension between the AAP and the Modi government. The AAP has long been critical of the Modi government, and this move will only add to the party’s grievances.

It remains to be seen how this latest development will play out, but it is clear that the political climate in Delhi is becoming increasingly heated. The people of Delhi will be watching closely to see how their elected officials respond to this latest twist in the ongoing saga of the excise policy.