There is one man behind the success story of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) education model in the national capital who is also Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s most-trusted lieutenant. AAP’s second-in-command, Manish Sisodia, was arrested on Monday by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with alleged irregularities in a liquor policy. He’s the second prominent Delhi minister who has been arrested by a central agency over corruption allegations; the first was Health Minister Satyendra Jain.
Sisodia, a former journalist, was part of the Anna Hazare movement before entering into politics with the inception of AAP, headed by his friend-cum mentor Arvind Kejriwal. He is considered to be the man behind the transformation of government schools in the national capital and is often regarded as one of the most-efficient leaders in the country.
Apart from education, Manish Sisodia is helming 17 other portfolios in the Delhi Government. Not only is he key to the Delhi Government’s functioning but he is also the face of many reforms initiated by the Kejriwal government in Delhi. Before the liquor policy issue emerged, Sisodia has not really been embroiled in any controversies or scandals. In fact, he has always been hailed for bringing efficiency to government affairs.
His arrest last night triggered country-wide protests by workers of the AAP. The party has alleged the ruling Narendra Modi government at the Centre is responsible for unleashing political vendetta against its leaders.
‘Was pressured to quit AAP, offered Delhi CM’s post’: Manish Sisodia
Sisodia has been alleging for a long time that he was being pressured by the leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to break away from Kejriwal and form a new outfit to lead the government in the national capital in alliance with the saffron party. This model was seen recently in Maharashtra, where prominent leader Eknath Shinde rallied Shiv Sena rebels, overthrew the elected government, and formed a new government with the BJP. Later, they claimed the Shiv Sena party name and symbol which have now been granted to the rebel faction by the Election Commission of India.
“BJP says there is a Rs 10,000 crore excise scam. I found at the CBI office that there is no scam and the case is fake. The fake case against me is a conspiracy to make BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’ a success in Delhi,” Manish Sisodia had earlier told the media after he was questioned by the CBI.
In the history of Indian politics, it’s not new that the party ruling at the Centre takes the aid of central agencies to unleash its agenda and threaten the opposition parties and their leaders. However, this model of power works to weaken the foundation of the country’s democracy rather than doing any good.
The alleged ‘Delhi Liquor Scam’
The probe in question relates to the now-withdrawn Delhi liquor sales policy introduced in 2021. Under the policy, in a departure from norms in most states, the government no longer had anything to do with selling liquor and allowed only private shops to do so. The central aim was to stop black marketing, increase revenue, and improve the customer experience.
It also allowed the home delivery of liquor and shops to stay open till 3 am. Licensees could also offer unlimited discounts. The government reported a substantial 27 per cent increase in income from the policy, generating around ₹8,900 crores.
However, the reforms soon ran into trouble with various authorities. First, the Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police, which reports to the Central government. Then, Delhi’s new Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, also a representative of the Centre. Citing a report from a top Delhi bureaucrat which accused Manish Sisodia (the head of Delhi’s Excise Department) of bending rules and providing undue benefits to liquor vending licensees, Saxena asked for a CBI investigation.
Until his arrest, Sisodia had not been named in the chargesheet filed by the agency. But last year, the CBI raided 31 locations in relation to the case, including his home. The agency did not find anything incriminating, the minister said — a stand not challenged by the agency. Separately, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) also launched an investigation into the Delhi liquor scam, alleging money laundering, and claimed a liquor lobby dubbed the “South Group” paid at least ₹100 crores in kickbacks to the Kejiwal-led AAP for its Goa election campaign via one of the arrested businessmen.
The ED widened the scope of the probe, going as far as to implicate K Kavitha, daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and a strident critic of the BJP, and arresting her former accountant. It claimed the policy caused a ₹2,800 crore loss to the government.
AAP dismisses all charges against Manish Sisodia
The AAP has dismissed all charges and said the investigation is the BJP’s attempt to settle political scores. However, it has maintained that it will cooperate with investigators. “There is no such thing as a liquor scam. We formulated the best and most transparent policy in the country,” AAP convenor Kejriwal said.
After Sisodia’s arrest on Monday, CM Kejriwal called the arrest “dirty politics” and warned that “people will respond”. “Manish is innocent. His arrest is dirty politics. There is a lot of anger among the people due to Sisodia’s arrest. Everyone is watching. People understand everything. People will respond to this. This will boost our spirit further. Our struggle will get stronger,” he tweeted.
While hailing Manish Sisodia for his work, CM Kejriwal said his deputy has worked very hard to ensure children from every poor home can go to school. “He is an honest, decent man. But they have arrested him today. They arrest good people and patriots, while their friends loot millions from banks,” he added.
Sisodia faces heat over Feedback Unit
Deputy CM Manish Sisodia is also facing heat over the Delhi Government’s Feedback Unit (FBU), which has allegedly been involved in political snooping. Last week, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) gave its sanction to prosecute Sisodia under the Prevention of Corruption Act in the FBU snooping case.
Sisodia heads the Delhi Government’s Vigilance Department under which the FBU was created.
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