The Enforcement Directorate (ED) along with CBI has initiated raids across 35 locations around Delhi, Punjab and Telangana that is considered in relation with its investigation under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The concerned officials linked these raids to alleged irregularities in the recently formed Delhi excise policy. It must be noted that ED’s money laundering case is set on a CBI FIR.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal mocked the on-going ED raids in connection with the Excise Policy scam and tweeted "More than 500 raids, since 3 months more than 300 CBI/ED officers are working 24 hours – one 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?"
Vijay Nair possess records of recent arrest by CBI that claimed in its remand note that “AAP's Communications Chief and Arvind Kejriwal's close aide Vijay Nair had been 'actively involved in the formulation' of the contentious Delhi liquor policy. The probe agency had arrested him for conspiracy, 'cartelisation' and 'chosen licensing' in the excise policy - allegations that the AAP insisted were baseless”.
He was released from judicial custody on October 6. Vijay Nair is suspected to sustain direct or indirect connections to numerous companies that might had played a role in drafting of the liquor policy. The Enforcement Directorate is determined to take AAP's communication in charge, Vijay Nair in custody. The names of Sameer Mahandru and Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia are mentioned in the CBI FIR.
Raids are being carried out in a number of liquor distributors, companies and linked entities were following the few new leads in the case assembled by the agencies while interrogation of various accused. After conducting 103 raids ED had arrested Sameer Mahandru, a liquor businessman and managing director of liquor manufacturing company Indospirit, last month in the case.