ED conducts raids at 35 locations in Delhi-NCR, Punjab in liquor policy case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted fresh raids at 35 locations in Delhi-NCR, Punjab and some places in Hyderabad in the Delhi excise money laundering case, as per the sources.

Reacting to the fresh raids, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday tweeted, "More than 500 raids, since 3 months, more than 300 CBI/ED officers are working 24 hours to find evidence against Manish Sisodia. Can't find anything because nothing was done. Time of so many officers is being wasted for their dirty politics. How will such a country progress?"

500 , 3 CBI/ED 300 24 -

? https://t.co/VN3AMc6TUd — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 7, 2022

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted more than 103 raids in this case till now and has also arrested Sameer Mahandru, a liquor businessman and managing director of liquor manufacturing company Indospirit last month in the case.

DELHI EXCISE POLICY

The liquor scheme came under the scanner after the L-G recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of Delhi's Excise Policy 2021-22. He had also suspended 11 excise officials in the matter.

The money laundering case in the liquor policy stemmed from an FIR in which Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and some Delhi government bureaucrats were named as accused. The CBI is investigating if the policy aided liquor cartels.

The Delhi Excise Policy, implemented from November 17 last year, was scrapped by the Arvind Kejriwal government in July this year following a CBI probe into its implementation.

Furthermore, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged huge corruption in the policy that allowed retailers to offer big discounts to attract buyers. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), however, said that its policy was aimed at curbing corruption and accused the BJP of misusing central agencies for political goals.

(With inputs from PTI)