Feedback Unit case: CBI registers case against Delhi's former DyCM Manish Sisodia

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a second case against Aam Ami Party (AAP) leer Manish Sisodia in connection with allegations that a Special Feedback Unit created by Delhi government in 2015 was illegally used for snooping on political rivals and government officials. It comes after Union Home Ministry on February 22 allowed probe agency to investigate alleged snooping case. 

According to sources, several people have been named accused in FIR including Manish Sisodia, Sukesh Kumar Jain, Rakesh Kumar Sinha (working as Special visor to CM and Joint Director, Feedback Unit, GNCT of Delhi), Preep Kumar Punj (working as Deputy Director, Feedback Unit, GNCT of Delhi), Satish Khetrapal (working as Feed Back Officer, GNCT of Delhi), Gopal Mohan, visor Anti-corruption to CM of Delhi. 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has expressed his concern over 'false case' against Manish Sisodia. He took to Twitter and wrote, "PM’s plan is to slap several false cases against Manish and keep him in custody for a long period. S for country!" 

How Manish Sisodia was dragged into matter? 

controversy of 'political snooping' kickstarted when AAP came to power in 2015 and took constructive step of constituting a Feedback Unit (FBU) in September of same year. decision to create special unit was taken by CM Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government after it lost a battle to take control of Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB). Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena got control over ACB unit. 

According to reports, FBU was set up by Delhi government to collect relevant information and feedback from various departments, institutions and autonomous bodies falling in its jurisdiction. unit was also responsible to probe corruption cases across city. However, no cabinet note and LG's sanction was taken at time of its formation, sources claimed. 

CBI has also claimed that FBU started functioning on February 1, 2016, with a grant of Rs 1 crore. In timeline of eight months, it probed over 700 cases, of which 60 per cent was of vigilance and 40 per cent related to political snooping, according to CBI. unit was constituted under supervision of Vigilance department and Manish Sisodia served as minister-in-charge of vigilance.