The Evening Wrap: CBI issues look-out circular against eight accused in Delhi excise policy case

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Sunday issued look-out circulars against eight private persons who have been arraigned in the case that alleges irregularities in the Delhi government’s now-withdrawn excise policy. However, the CBI clarified that no LOC has been issued so far against any of the public servants named in the case. In the FIR, the CBI has named 15 accused persons, including four public servants — Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, the then Excise Commissioner Arva Gopi Krishna, Deputy Commissioner Anand Tiwari, and Assistant Commissioner Pankaj Bhatnagar. The role of several other government servants and private persons is also being probed. An agency official identified the the private persons as Vijay Nair, former chief executive officer of Mumbai-based Only Much Louder, an entertainment and event management company (Mumbai); Amandeep Dhal, a director of Brindco Sales (Delhi); Sameer Mahendru, who is the managing director of Indospirit Group (Delhi); Buddy Retail Private Limited (Delhi) director Amit Arora; Mahadev Liquors’ authorised signatory Sunny Marwah, Dinesh Arora; Arun Ramchandra Pillai and Arjun Pandey. In the FIR, registered on a reference from the Union Home Ministry, it has been alleged that there were irregularities while modifying the excise policy. While undue favours were extended to the licence holders, licence fee was waived/reduced and L-1 licence extended without the competent authority’s permission. The illegal gains were transferred to the accused public servants by private parties, which made false entries in their books of accounts to conceal the money trail, it is alleged. The CBI has also alleged that Sisodia’s close associates, Buddy Retail director Amit Arora, Dinesh Arora, and Arjun Pandey, were actively involved in managing and diverting the undue pecuniary benefits collected from the private persons to the officials in question. Anand Sharma quits as Himachal Congress steering committee chairman Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma resigned as the chairman of party’s steering committee for Himachal Pradesh, where Assembly election is due by the end of the year. Mr. Sharma’s resignation comes days after another leader of the G23 grouping Ghulam Nabi Azad declined a party post in Jammu and Kashmir. In a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Mr. Sharma had said that his self-respect is “non-negotiable” and he has resigned from the post, according to sources. He has also told the Congress chief that he has been ignored in the consultation process. However, he had said that he will continue to campaign for the party candidates in the State. The former Union Minister and deputy leader of the Congress in Rajya Sabha was appointed as chairman of the steering committee in Himachal Pradesh on April 26. Both Mr. Azad and Mr. Sharma are prominent leaders of the G23 grouping which has been critical of the decisions of the party leadership. The grouping, comprising prominent veterans, including Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Manish Tewari, has been insisting on genuine elections right from the block up to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) level. Mr. Sharma, who is considered among the tallest leaders of Himachal Pradesh, has reportedly told Ms. Gandhi that his self-respect has been hurt as he has not been consulted or invited for any of the meetings of the party. The Congress is seeking to wrest power from the BJP in Himachal Pradesh in Assembly polls slated later this year. Rakesh Tikait detained, returns without participating in Jantar Mantar protest Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait was detained by the Delhi Police at the Ghazipur border while he was trying to enter the national capital to take part in an unemployment protest rally at Jantar Mantar. A Delhi Police official said Mr. Tikait, the national spokesperson for the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) and a prominent face of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), was stopped at the border around afternoon on Sunday. "Thereafter, he was detained and taken to Madhu Vihar police station where police spoke to him and requested him to return," Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Dependra Pathak said. The DCP said Mr. Tikait "agreed" with the police request and "he has been escorted back". Sources said Mr. Tikait was detained by the Delhi police to prevent "undue gathering" in the national capital. However, Mr. Tikait alleged the Delhi police was working at the behest of the Centre. "The Delhi Police working at the behest of the government cannot suppress the voice of the farmers. This arrest will bring a new revolution. This struggle will continue till the last breath. Won't stop, won't get tired, won't bow down," Mr. Tikait tweeted in Hindi. The SKM and other farmers' groups are organising a mahapanchayat at the Jantar Mantar on Monday and they will pass through the jurisdiction of outer district, which includes the Ghazipur border in Ghaziabad. "In this connection, adequate deployment of local police and outside force will be made in the area of Outer District at Tikri border, major intersections, along the railway tracks and metro station to avoid any untoward incident. Moreover, a full proof law and order arrangement has already been issued in this regard," said Sameer Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer Delhi). Daughter of ultra-nationalist Russian ideologue killed in suspected car bomb attack, Ukraine denies involvement Darya Dugina, daughter of an ultra-nationalist Russian ideologue, who advocates Russia absorbing Ukraine, was killed in a suspected car bomb attack outside Moscow, Russian state investigators said. Dugina, daughter of prominent ideologue Alexander Dugin, was killed after a suspected explosive device detonated on the Toyota Land Cruiser she was travelling in, investigators from the Moscow region said in a statement. The Russian Foreign Ministry speculated that Ukraine might have been behind the attack but Ukraine denied any involvement. Russia's TASS state news agency quoted Andrei Krasnov, someone who knew Dugina, as saying the vehicle belonged to her father and that he was probably the intended target. The father and daughter duo have been attending a festival outside Moscow and Mr. Dugin had decided to switch cars at the last minute, Russian government newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta reported. TV footage accompanying the statement showed investigators collecting debris and fragments from the spot where the explosion happened. They also said a murder case has been opened and forensic examinations will be carried out to try to determine exactly what had happened. They said they were considering "all versions" when it came to working out who was responsible for the crime. The head of Russia’s Investigative Committee ordered the institution’s central branch to take over the investigation. Maria Zakharova, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said that if the investigation’s trail led to Ukraine, then it would point to a policy of “state terrorism” being pursued by Kyiv. Following the incident, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said, “I confirm that Ukraine, of course, had nothing to do with this because we are not a criminal state, like the Russian Federation, and moreover we are not a terrorist state,” speaking on Ukrainian television. He appeared to blame internal power struggles between “various political factions” in Russia for the killing, and suggested the incident was the “Karmic” payback for supporters of Russia’s actions in Ukraine like Dugina and her father. The influence of Mr. Dugin, who is on a U.S. sanctions list, over Russian President Vladimir Putin has been a subject for speculation, with some Russia watchers asserting that his sway is significant and others calling it minimal. In Brief RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said that the organisation is working to awaken and unify the society so that India can emerge as a “model society” for the entire world. He said that people should come forward in serving society as a community and not as an individual while speaking at an event organised by the RSS’ Delhi unit. Many personalities from different sections of the society sacrificed and contributed to the country’s Independence, but “it took time for us to flourish as one society,” he said, adding that it is the basic nature of Indians that they think like society and not individuals. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow [logo] The Evening Wrap 21 AUGUST 2022 [The Hindu logo] Welcome to the Evening Wrap newsletter, your guide to the day’s biggest stories with concise analysis from The Hindu. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( Delhi excise policy case | CBI issues look-out circular against eight accused persons The Central Bureau of Investigation on Sunday [issued look-out circulars against eight private persons]( who have been arraigned in the case that alleges irregularities in the Delhi government’s now-withdrawn excise policy. However, the CBI clarified that no LOC has been issued so far against any of the public servants named in the case. In the FIR, the CBI has named 15 accused persons, including four public servants — Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, the then Excise Commissioner Arva Gopi Krishna, Deputy Commissioner Anand Tiwari, and Assistant Commissioner Pankaj Bhatnagar. The role of several other government servants and private persons is also being probed. [Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia talks to the media at his residence in New Delhi on August 21, 2022. ] An agency official identified the the private persons as Vijay Nair, former chief executive officer of Mumbai-based Only Much Louder, an entertainment and event management company (Mumbai); Amandeep Dhal, a director of Brindco Sales (Delhi); Sameer Mahendru, who is the managing director of Indospirit Group (Delhi); Buddy Retail Private Limited (Delhi) director Amit Arora; Mahadev Liquors’ authorised signatory Sunny Marwah, Dinesh Arora; Arun Ramchandra Pillai and Arjun Pandey. In the FIR, registered on a reference from the Union Home Ministry, it has been alleged that there were irregularities while modifying the excise policy. While undue favours were extended to the licence holders, licence fee was waived/reduced and L-1 licence extended without the competent authority’s permission. The illegal gains were transferred to the accused public servants by private parties, which made false entries in their books of accounts to conceal the money trail, it is alleged. The CBI has also alleged that Sisodia’s close associates, Buddy Retail director Amit Arora, Dinesh Arora, and Arjun Pandey, were actively involved in managing and diverting the undue pecuniary benefits collected from the private persons to the officials in question. Anand Sharma quits as Himachal Congress steering committee chairman Senior Congress leader [Anand Sharma resigned as the chairman of party’s steering committee for Himachal Pradesh]( where Assembly election is due by the end of the year. Mr. Sharma’s resignation comes days after another leader of the G23 grouping Ghulam Nabi Azad declined a party post in Jammu and Kashmir. In a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Mr. Sharma had said that his self-respect is “non-negotiable” and he has resigned from the post, according to sources. He has also told the Congress chief that he has been ignored in the consultation process. However, he had said that he will continue to campaign for the party candidates in the State. The former Union Minister and deputy leader of the Congress in Rajya Sabha was appointed as chairman of the steering committee in Himachal Pradesh on April 26. Both Mr. Azad and Mr. Sharma are prominent leaders of the G23 grouping which has been critical of the decisions of the party leadership. The grouping, comprising prominent veterans, including Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Manish Tewari, has been insisting on genuine elections right from the block up to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) level. Mr. Sharma, who is considered among the tallest leaders of Himachal Pradesh, has reportedly told Ms. Gandhi that his self-respect has been hurt as he has not been consulted or invited for any of the meetings of the party. The Congress is seeking to wrest power from the BJP in Himachal Pradesh in Assembly polls slated later this year. Rakesh Tikait detained, returns without participating in Jantar Mantar protest Farmer leader [Rakesh Tikait was detained by the Delhi Police at the Ghazipur border]( while he was trying to enter the national capital to take part in an unemployment protest rally at Jantar Mantar. A Delhi Police official said Mr. Tikait, the national spokesperson for the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) and a prominent face of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), was stopped at the border around afternoon on Sunday. "Thereafter, he was detained and taken to Madhu Vihar police station where police spoke to him and requested him to return," Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Dependra Pathak said. The DCP said Mr. Tikait "agreed" with the police request and "he has been escorted back". [A man shouts slogans during the ‘Rozgar Aandolan’ at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on August 21, 2022. ] Sources said Mr. Tikait was detained by the Delhi police to prevent "undue gathering" in the national capital. However, Mr. Tikait alleged the Delhi police was working at the behest of the Centre. "The Delhi Police working at the behest of the government cannot suppress the voice of the farmers. This arrest will bring a new revolution. This struggle will continue till the last breath. Won't stop, won't get tired, won't bow down," Mr. Tikait tweeted in Hindi. The SKM and other farmers' groups are organising a mahapanchayat at the Jantar Mantar on Monday and they will pass through the jurisdiction of outer district, which includes the Ghazipur border in Ghaziabad. "In this connection, adequate deployment of local police and outside force will be made in the area of Outer District at Tikri border, major intersections, along the railway tracks and metro station to avoid any untoward incident. Moreover, a full proof law and order arrangement has already been issued in this regard," said Sameer Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer Delhi). Daughter of ultra-nationalist Russian ideologue killed in suspected car bomb attack, Ukraine denies involvement Darya Dugina, daughter of an ultra-nationalist Russian ideologue, who advocates Russia absorbing Ukraine, [was killed in a suspected car bomb attack outside Moscow]( Russian state investigators said. Dugina, daughter of prominent ideologue Alexander Dugin, was killed after a suspected explosive device detonated on the Toyota Land Cruiser she was travelling in, investigators from the Moscow region said in a statement. The Russian Foreign Ministry speculated that Ukraine might have been behind the attack but Ukraine denied any involvement. Russia's TASS state news agency quoted Andrei Krasnov, someone who knew Dugina, as saying the vehicle belonged to her father and that he was probably the intended target. The father and daughter duo have been attending a festival outside Moscow and Mr. Dugin had decided to switch cars at the last minute, Russian government newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta reported. TV footage accompanying the statement showed investigators collecting debris and fragments from the spot where the explosion happened. They also said a murder case has been opened and forensic examinations will be carried out to try to determine exactly what had happened. They said they were considering "all versions" when it came to working out who was responsible for the crime. The head of Russia’s Investigative Committee ordered the institution’s central branch to take over the investigation. Maria Zakharova, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said that if the investigation’s trail led to Ukraine, then it would point to a policy of “state terrorism” being pursued by Kyiv. Following the incident, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said, “I confirm that Ukraine, of course, had nothing to do with this because we are not a criminal state, like the Russian Federation, and moreover we are not a terrorist state,” speaking on Ukrainian television. He appeared to blame internal power struggles between “various political factions” in Russia for the killing, and suggested the incident was the “Karmic” payback for supporters of Russia’s actions in Ukraine like Dugina and her father. The influence of Mr. Dugin, who is on a U.S. sanctions list, over Russian President Vladimir Putin has been a subject for speculation, with some Russia watchers asserting that his sway is significant and others calling it minimal. In Brief RSS chief [Mohan Bhagwat said that the organisation is working to awaken and unify the society]( so that India can emerge as a “model society” for the entire world. He said that people should come forward in serving society as a community and not as an individual while speaking at an event organised by the RSS’ Delhi unit. Many personalities from different sections of the society sacrificed and contributed to the country’s Independence, but “it took time for us to flourish as one society,” he said, adding that it is the basic nature of Indians that they think like society and not individuals. 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