CBI to question Sisodia aides on media campaign

The CBI is all set to seek clarification from certain officials of Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia as part of its ongoing investigation into the preliminary enquiry (PE) registered against him. The agency recently registered a PE against Mr Sisodia to probe the alleged irregularities committed in awarding a social media campaign, “Talk to AK”, contract to a private firm.

“The agency recently sought clarification from certain officials of the finance department of the Delhi government in connection with its investigation into the PE registered to probe the alleged irregularities committed in awarding contracts pertaining to the social media campaign — Talk to AK — launched by the city government,” sources said. Now, the agency sleuths want clarification from officials of the deputy CM office, they added. This may trigger a fresh round of confrontation between the Centre and the Aam Admi Party-led Delhi government. Social media campaign Talk to AK was an initiative of the chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The PE was registered based on a complaint filed by the vigilance department of the Delhi government. There are allegations that a consultant of a wellknown public relations company was hired by the Delhi government to promote Talk to AK (Talk to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal) campaign and a proposal of `1.5 crore was prepared for this purpose. It is also alleged that despite objections from the principal secretary, the government went ahead with the proposal and the consultant spent the money, thereby creating a liability for the government.

The BJP and the Congress had called the campaign a marketing gimmick at the cost of the exchequer. The questions and answers, the two parties had alleged, were “scripted”.

Launched almost an year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, Mr Kejriwal’s interaction was streamed live on the website www.talktoak.com.