CM Arvind Kejriwal
– Photo: Social Media
Expansion
A new controversy has come to light in the alleged liquor scam of Delhi. Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has ordered to register an FIR against IAS officer Amarnath Talwade for demanding money from liquor vendors. Besides, disciplinary action has also been recommended from the Home Ministry. In this case of the year 2015-16, FSL has examined the audio recording and found out the collusion of the officer.
Raj Niwas officials say that during the investigation it was revealed that the Delhi government was pressurizing a subordinate officer to collect money from retail liquor vendors. In this case, an FIR has been registered against the accused officer Amarnath Talwade and the Home Ministry has been recommended to take disciplinary action against him. Talwade is currently posted in Arunachal Pradesh.
According to officials, Talwade, during his tenure as senior general manager of Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited (DSCSC) in 2015-16, had pressurized the then DSCSC manager PK Shahi (now retired) to take money. In this case, the audio clip of the phone conversation between the two came to light. In the clip, Talwade has also admitted to taking Rs 5 lakh from PK Shahi soon after taking charge of DSCSC.
FSL has also certified it. Talwade was posted in DSCSC from January 12, 2015 to April 29, 2016. During the talks, Talwade was demanding 35 percent of the total collection. Whereas Shahi could arrange only 15 percent. Earlier, the Noida man had sent the audio clip along with the complaint to the Vigilance Department on March 21 last year.
The complainant alleged that the conversation between an IAS officer and an inspector related to excise matters. After preliminary investigation, DOV came to know that the matter is related to liquor scam. And the conversation is between Talwade and Shahi.
Do not tamper with the recording
On the instructions of the Chief Secretary, the Vigilance Department sent the audio clip to FSL Delhi for investigation. FSL submitted its investigation report on 28 November 2023. It was said that there is no change of any kind in the audio recording. After this the matter was sent to the law department. The department opined that this was a suitable case for filing an FIR. Subsequently, the DOV proposed to register an FIR against Talwade and refer the case to the ACB for appropriate disciplinary action. Sent it to LG for approval.