Delhi Excise policy case: Look Out Circular likely for Manish Sisodia ‘in process’. All you need to know
Premium- The CBI recently said that a Look Out Circular against Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia is 'in process, not issued yet'
NEW DELHI : Two days after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided the Delhi residence of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and 21 other locations in Delhi-NCR and 7other states and registered an FIR listing 15 people including Sisodia, with relation to the Delhi Excise Policy ‘corruption’ case, the investigative agency had hinted that they would issue a Lookout Circular for Manish Sisodia.
What is a Look Out Circular?
A government investigative agency can issue a Look Out Circular (LOC), which is a letter used by authorities to check whether a person travelling to abroad is 'wanted' by the police or any agency. The circular can be used in immigration checks at international borders.
An LOC is often issued to ensure that the person absconding or wanted by the law enforcement agencies does not leave the country. It is mostly used at the immigration checkpoints by the immigration branch at international airports and seaports.
Thus, any person who has been issued a LOC in his/her name is barred from travelling out of the country as he/she is 'wanted' by the law enforcement agencies of the country.
How is an LOC imposed?
In the LOC, the concerned agencies inform the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) regarding an individual who might leave the country without informing law enforcement agencies. BoI then updates the list of LOC to its officers at immigration checkpoints at international airports and seaports.
There are certain categories of LOC like where a person is completely banned from going outside the country and in certain categories, he or she can go but only after taking due permission and informing the concerned law enforcement agency.
Look Out Circular against Manish Sisodia, 14 others?
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently said that a Look Out Circular against Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and the 14 others mentioned in the FIR, is "in process, not issued yet", reported news agency ANI.
CBI said that the Look Out Circular would prevent Sisodia and the others from travelling abroad until further orders. The Look Out Circuklar would be issued in relation with the ongoing investigation of the Delhi Excise Policy ‘corruption’.
What is the Delhi Excise Policy controversy?
A report on July 8 by Delhi's Chief Secretary established prima facie violations of GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR) 1993, Delhi Excise Act 2009 and Delhi Excise Rules 2010.
The Excise policy handed over the sale of liquor to private players and shut down all government-run liquor outlets.
The Chief Secretary's report indicated substantively financial quid pro quo at the top political level and that the Delhi Excise Policy was implemented with the sole aim of benefitting private liquor barons for financial benefits to individuals at the highest rungs of the government leading up to Manish Sisodia.
Sisodia, who is in charge of the excise department, is believed to have executed decisions in violation of the statutory provisions of the Excise Policy, which could have huge financial implications. Such "undue financial favours" to the liquor licensees after the deadline for awarding tenders caused huge losses to the exchequer, sources earlier claimed.
On the basis of a report by the Delhi Chief Secretary, Delhi's lieutenant governor VK Saxena had in July this year recommended a CBI probe into the Delhi excise policy brought out in November 2021 over alleged violations of procedural lapses made by the deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia to "provide post tender undue benefits to liquor licensees."
LG Saxena approved the suspension of 11 officials over "lapses" in the implementation of the Excise Policy 2021-22. The suspended officials included Gopikrishna and deputy excise commissioner Anand Kumar Tiwari.
The CBI registered an FIR in connection with alleged irregularities in the formulation and execution of the Delhi Excise Policy.
On July 30, Sisodia had announced a rollback and said only government outlets would sell liquor in Delhi from August 1.
Earlier on August 7, former Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal was accused by Deputy CM Manish Sisodia of changing his stand on the issue of opening liquor shops in unauthorized areas of Delhi.
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