CBI likely to issue Look Out Circular against Manish Sisodia

The Central Bureau of Investigation sources on Sunday said that a Look Out Circular (LOC) has been issued against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and others. However later in the day the central agency clarified that the LOC is “likely to be issued soon" and is currently "in the process."

New Delhi:Hours after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sources on Sunday said that a Look Out Circular (LOC) has been issued against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and others, the central agency clarified that the LOC is “likely to be issued soon" and is currently "in the process." On Friday, the CBI had raided the residence of Sisodia and other locations over allegations of irregularities and corruption in the now-scrapped liquor policy drafted by the Delhi government.

Sisodia who holds the Education portfolio in Delhi also handles the Excise Department. Earlier in the day, Sisodia accused Narendra Modi of foul play for having the central investigating agency issue the LOC against him. "You could not find any irregularity despite the raids. You have now issued a look out notice stating that I am absconding! What is this gimmick? I am in Delhi. Let me know where to report. I cannot find you," read a rough translation of his tweet in Hindi.

"It is unfortunate that the PM keeps thinking against whom should a CBI 'Look Out Circular' be issued today," Sisodia said in a conversation with the media. He further asserted that the public will give a "Look Out Circular" to the BJP.

Earlier in another tweet, Sisodia took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi by posting a video of his speech on Twitter wherein he is heard saying that CBI is being misused to target innocent people. Along with the video, the Delhi Deputy Chief Minister also wrote a caption in Hindi which roughly translates to, "Seasons keep changing slowly. However, your speed has surprised even the winds."

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote on Twitter, "At a time when the common man is battling with inflation, crores of youth are unemployed, the central government should come together with all the state governments and fight unemployment and inflation in the country. Instead, they are fighting with everyone in the country. Every morning they wake up, they start their own game of CBI-ED. How will we progress as a country then?"

The CBI on Saturday summoned the Delhi Deputy Chief Minister among others for questioning in the corruption case related to the implementation of the Delhi excise policy. The Delhi government withdrew the policy in July after Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena recommended the probe into the alleged violations of rules and procedural lapses in its implementation. (with Agency inputs)