Delhi Congress demands Manish Sisodia's resignation over alleged excise violations

The Delhi Congress on Saturday staged a protest outside the AAP office here, demanding the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia over alleged violation of rules and procedural lapses in the Kejriwal government's Excise Policy, 2021-22.

Several Delhi Congress leaders and workers gathered near the DDU Marg office of the AAP, holding banners and raising slogans against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Sisodia.

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The Congress accused the ruling Aam Aadmi Party of being "knee-deep in corruption."

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has recommended a CBI probe into the city government's excise policy. According to officials, the inquiry was recommended on a basis of a report filed by the Delhi chief secretary, showing prima facie violations, including "deliberate and gross procedural lapses," to provide post-tender "undue benefits to liquor licensees."

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Chief Minister Kejriwal has defended Sisodia as a "kattar imandar" and feared he could be framed in a "fake" case and arrested in a few days.

The Delhi Congress had given a written complaint to Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana in June, seeking a probe into the “corruption” but no action was taken, party president Anil Kumar alleged.

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"Truth cannot be hidden and the truth is that the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi is knee-deep in corruption," he said.

"Implementation of the revised liquor policy has violated all norms and regulations," Kumar alleged.