New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted raids today in connection with the liquor policy of the Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi.
These raids are going on at a total of 35 places across the country including Delhi, Punjab and Hyderabad. The ED has registered a case of money laundering in the case. Earlier in September, the ED had arrested two people, including liquor baron Sameer Mahendru, after a raid.
Raids are being conducted at liquor barons, distributors and premises linked to supply chain networks in these states. The ED action began in the wee hours when agency teams were seen leaving the headquarters for the raiding locations.
AAP communications in-charge Vijay Nair, who was arrested in connection with the liquor policy case, was on Thursday sent to two-week judicial custody by a Delhi court. Nair was arrested by the CBI in the Delhi excise policy scam case, in which Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia is also an accused.
According to the prosecution, Nair, along with others, entered into a criminal conspiracy, a part of which was executed by framing and executing the Delhi government’s Excise Policy, 2021-2022.
The prosecution claimed that the intention was to provide undue and illegal benefits to liquor manufacturers and its distributors by duping the government and the policy resulted in huge revenue loss to the government.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered a case against deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, accused public servants and other unidentified persons under the Indian Penal Code and other prevention of corruption laws.
According to the FIR, without taking permission from the competent authorities, the accused public servants played an important role in taking a decision on the excise policy.