CBI FILES CHARGE SHEET AGAINST 7 IN DELHI EXCISE CASE: OFFICIALS

NEW DELHI: The CBI on Friday filed its first charge sheet against seven accused, including two arrested businessmen, in the Delhi Excise policy scam case, officials said.

Besides the two arrested businessmen, those named in the charge sheet include the head of a news channel, a Hyderabadbased liquor businessman, a Delhi-based liquor distributor and two officials of the excise department.

Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, named in the CBI FIR, is not named in the present charge sheet, which is filed within 60 days of the probe agency taking the investigation. The accused have been charged under IPC section 120B (criminal conspiracy) and provisions of bribery under the Prevention of Corruption Act, officials said. The agency has kept the probe open related to the role of others, broader conspiracy with licensees, cartelisation, and larger conspiracy in executing the controversial excise policy which was rolled back.