Snooping Case: The difficulties of Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, who is already facing allegations in the liquor policy case in Delhi, may increase. Union Ministry of Home Affairs through the Feedback Unit has approved the prosecution of Manish Sisodia under the Prevention of Corruption Act in the snooping (espionage) case.
According to information, on February 17, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat was given permission by the Ministry of Home Affairs for the CBI to prosecute Sisodia in the alleged snooping case. Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena had approved the CBI’s request for prosecution sanction and forwarded it to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
CBI had sought permission to register FIR
The CBI had sought permission to register an FIR against Sisodia, who heads the vigilance department of the Delhi government. Let us tell you that in 2015, the Delhi Government had constituted the Feedback Unit. It is alleged that the Feedback Unit spied on opposition political parties, organizations and individuals from February 2016 to September 2016. It is alleged that no permission was taken from the Lieutenant Governor for this unit.
Sources had said that these feedback units were being run without any legislative or judicial oversight by close aides and advisors of CM Arvind Kejriwal, who reported directly to him. The case also relates to unaccounted spending of funds allocated to the FBU in the name of the Secret Service.
According to news agency ANI, in March 2017, the Vigilance Department handed over the probe to the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB). After this the LG office marked it to the CBI. The preliminary investigation of the said case was completed in 2021. CBI wrote to LG and MHA in 2021 for approval to register FIR under Section 17A of Prevention of Corruption Act.
