Sisodia in a case of conflict of interest

On June 5, 2017, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia shot off an angry letter to the Chief Secretary to initiate action for dereliction of duty against Director of Department of Information and Publicity, Jayadev Sarangi. He thundered, "either sack him or get him to do what we are asking him to do."

Why? It was because Sarangi did not allow a Facebook Live of Sisodia’s to go through due to tender procedures not being met.

Earlier, Sarangi had also sent a notice to the Aam Aadmi Party to recover Rs. 97 crore for advertisements done through government money. This order was given by a Central Govt committee, ratified by the L-G.

But for the first time, Republic TV reveals that there is more than that.

Republic TV has exclusively accessed a note written on May 8, 2017 by Sarangi that clearly states that all these advertisements were done only after the approval of the Delhi Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister. He also raised the issue of why the Delhi govt. was fighting on behalf and acting in interests of the AAP.

The clincher

Sarangi clearly points out Sisodia’s conflict of interest as AAP founding member and Deputy CM and asks him to recuse himself from this matter and files.

This stinging note was written in response to a note by Sisodia, where he not only defended the advertisements but also sought to blame the DIP officials. Sisodia wrote on May 4, 2017 that if anything, action should be taken on the officials and not his party, for they are the ones who have the responsibility to ensure ads meet guidelines.

Sisodia even attacked the L-G again for approving the reimbursement of the money, questioning his authority in the matter. 

Sarangi provided a point-by-point rebuttal to all charges and allegations made by Sisodia. He clarified that all advertisements were approved by the Chief Minister or the Deputy CM, despite the department raising questions on several occasions. He defended the DIP when accused of making a U-turn. The DIP Director says the dept has only done its duty in executing a committee and L-G order.

The questions

So has Sisodia blurred the lines between being Deputy CM and defending his party?

Given his clear conflict of interest, will Sisodia, as Sarangi asks, recuse himself from this matter that is still in the High Court? More importantly, why is he seeking to blame the officials in order to save the party?

AAP has maintained that all ads met guidelines and did not 'glorify any individual or bring about any benefit to any political party.

This is just the latest flashpoint between Sisodia and Sarangi. Rarely ever before has a department director accused his own minister of conflict of interest and made such stinging remarks on his conduct. The question these papers also raise is that was this note, exclusively with Republic TV, the real reason why Sisodia asked Sarangi to be sacked? Was it just a case of going after an official who dared to question a minister?