The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a new case against Manish Sisodia, the former deputy chief minister of Delhi, for alleged misuse of official position and financial impropriety in the Feedback Unit (FBU). The FBU was also allegedly used for political snooping. Sisodia, who is already in custody of the Enforcement Directorate for the excise policy case, has been booked along with five others for criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The other accused include a retired CISF DIG, a former joint deputy director of Intelligence Bureau, an IRS officer, and two others who were working in the Feedback Unit. The CBI has invoked IPC sections 120-B, 403, 409, 468, 471, and 477A besides provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act against those named in the FIR. The case relates to FBU which was set up by the Aam Aadmi Party to gather information and actionable feedback regarding the working of various bodies under the jurisdiction of the Delhi government and to check corruption. The CBI action is an outcome of a preliminary enquiry which had “prima facie disclosed the offences” against the named accused. The enquiry report alleged irregularities in the appointments made in the unit, financial misappropriation and violation at various levels. The enquiry report alleged that posts for retired employees in the unit were created without concurrence from the Administrative Reforms Department and the lieutenant governor who is the competent authority. The CBI has alleged that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal moved the proposal in a Cabinet meeting in 2015 regarding setting up the unit but no agenda note was circulated. The government created 20 posts for the FBU to be adjusted in 88 posts created in Anti-Corruption Branch on an order from Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
