Published on: 14 July 2023 at 12:00 IST
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a second supplementary chargesheet in a Delhi court, as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged excise scam. The chargesheet includes five accused, including the Director of Chariot Productions Media Pvt Ltd. The individuals named in the chargesheet are Rajesh Joshi, Damodar Prasad Sharma, Prince Kumar, Arvind Kumar Singh, and Chanpreet Singh Rayat.
The CBI registered the case on August 17, 2022, following a reference from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regarding alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD). The case involves the former Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia, and others, including officials from the excise department and liquor license holders, who are accused of various irregularities such as modifications in the excise policy, granting undue favors, waiver and reduction in license fees, and extension of licenses without approval. It is alleged that illicit gains resulting from these acts were diverted to public servants through private entities by falsifying entries in their books of accounts.
The investigation led to searches conducted in several locations, resulting in the recovery of incriminating documents, digital records, and other evidence. Several individuals have been arrested during the course of the investigation. A previous chargesheet was filed in November 2022 against seven accused, including officials from the excise department and private individuals. In April 2023, a supplementary chargesheet was filed against four individuals, including the former Deputy Chief Minister of GNCTD.
Further investigation into the case is ongoing, and it has been discovered that the accused played a role in the transfer of illegally obtained funds amounting to approximately Rs. 44.54 crore to Goa through a hawala channel.