Feedback Unit Case: Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s troubles are not taking the name of abatement. The Union Home Ministry has approved the prosecution of Manish Sisodia under the Prevention of Corruption Act in the ‘Feedback Unit’ alleged espionage case. On February 8, the CBI had demanded the Ministry of Home Affairs to register a case against Manish Sisodia.
BJP has welcomed the decision to prosecute Manish Sisodia. BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana has said that BJP has raised this issue many times. He said, “Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia formed a unit, cameras were bought and all the officers were appointed inside it. They have also got the officers of many media organizations spied on illegally.”
What is Feedback Unit Case after all?
In fact, within months of winning the 2015 assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party government had reportedly created a “Feedback Unit” (FBU) to strengthen the vigilance department. A complaint was given to the CBI against this and in the initial investigation, the CBI found that the FBU had also collected political intelligence.
CBI sent report to vigilance department
The CBI submitted a report to the Vigilance Department on January 12, 2023, seeking LG’s approval to register a case against Deputy CM Manish Sisodia under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC. After this, the request of the CBI was forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
What did the CBI find in the investigation?
The Central Bureau of Investigation stated that 60% of the reports prepared by the Feedback Unit were related to matters relating to the Vigilance Department, while 40% were about “political intelligence”. The agency claimed that the unit (FBU) was not working in the interest of the Delhi government, but in the personal interest of the Aam Aadmi Party and Sisodia. The Central Bureau of Investigation also claimed that no formal action was taken against any public servant or department on the basis of the unit’s report.
BJP protested
Significantly, for two weeks, the BJP had also protested regarding this matter. BJP’s working state president at the time, Virendra Sachdeva, had said, “It is unconstitutional, the way Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia appointed a retired Director General of Police (DGP) to keep an eye on Parliament, MLAs, MPs, officers and Delhiites.” LG of Delhi has ordered registration of FIR and now Kejriwal’s entire cabinet will be in Tihar Jail like Satyendar Jain.”
