ED raids 35 locations over Delhi liquor scam

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate has made its entry into alleged liquor scam by Arvind Kejriwal government.

On Tuesday morning, ED started its raids on 35 locations in various cities to probe the money laundering angle into the alleged scam.

The raids are being conducted in multiple cities including Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Lucknow and Bengaluru targetting liquor businessmen.

The ED action follows CBI's raids on over 20 locations including Delhi Dy CM Manish Sisodia's residence on August 19.

However, Sisodia's residence is not being searched by ED.

The BJP on Monday shared a "sting operation" video that purportedly showed the father of a liquor scam accused claiming to have paid "commission" to acquire liquor licences in Delhi.

"The modus operandi as revealed in the video is that 80 per cent of the profit will go to (Chief Minister Arvind) Kejriwal and (Deputy Chief Minister) Manish Sisodia and their friend. First, you give us our 80 per cent commission and then sell the 20 per cent however you can, we do not care. This has been the policy of Kejriwal," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters here.

Addressing a press conference with Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta and Lok Sabha member Manoj Tiwari, Patra released the video of the "sting operation" featuring Kulvinder Marwah, the father of Sunny Marwah, the accused number 13 in the liquor scam case.

ED had filed a money laundering case on August 23 under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after taking cognisance of a CBI FIR that has named Sisodia and 14 others.

The ED, during its probe, will analyse if individuals and companies who were involved in the policy-making of this scheme and related entities generated any "proceeds of crime under the definition of PMLA" and if there was any possible creation of illegal or benami assets, agency sources said.

The agency has powers to attach such assets and question, arrest and prosecute those who indulge in the offence of money laundering.

The Delhi excise policy scheme came under the scanner after Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena last month recommended a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the implementation of Delhi's Excise Policy 2021-22. He also suspended 11 excise officials in the matter.

The CBI inquiry was recommended on the findings of the Delhi chief secretary's report filed in July showing prima facie violations of the GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR)-1993, Delhi Excise Act-2009 and Delhi Excise Rules-2010, officials said.

According to officials, the chief secretary's report had shown prima facie violations, including "deliberate and gross procedural lapses", to provide post-tender "undue benefits to liquor licensees" through the policy. It is also alleged that undue financial favours were extended to liquor licensees after the tenders were awarded, causing loss to the exchequer.