Talk to AK: CBI seeks fresh info from Dy CM Sisodia

New Delhi: The CBI is all set to seek fresh clarifications from Deputy chief minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, as part of its investigation into the alleged irregularities committed in awarding a social media campaign “Talk to AK” contract to a private firm.

Sources said the agency need certain fresh clarifications from the Dy CM in connection with the contract. The agency recently registered a Preliminary Inquiry (PE) against Mr Sisodia to probe the alleged irregularities committed in the “Talk to AK” contract. 

“The agency sought clarifications from certain officials of the Finance department of Delhi government in connection with its investigation into the PE. Clarifications were also sought from the Dy CM”, sources said. Now, the agency is considering to take fresh clarifications from the Dy CM and officials working under him, they added. This may trigger a fresh round of confrontation between the centre and the Aam Admi Party-led Delhi government. The 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 well-known 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”.