New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is on Friday searching about 25 locations in the national capital under its investigation in the Delhi Excise Policy money laundering case.
The premises covered under the search operation belong to private entities linked to liquor dealership and distributorship, news agency PTI reported officials as informing.
The federal agency has conducted multiple raids in this case to date and had also arrested Sameer Mahandru, a liquor businessman and managing director of liquor manufacturing company Indospirit.
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The money laundering case stems from a CBI FIR that had named Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia as an accused among others.
The scheme came under the scanner after the Delhi LG recommended a 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.
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena suggested a CBI investigation into the matter.
The residence of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was searched.
The AAP accused the BJP government at Centre of abusing investigative agencies.
Notably, the BJP earlier released a "sting" video in which a liquor seller claimed corruption in the formulation and implementation of excise policy. He alleged that the programme funded the Aam Adami Party's (AAP) election campaigns this year in Punjab and Goa.
Sisodia, on the other hand, had denied the alleged sting and challenged the CBI to arrest him.
"CBI raided my house, nothing was found. Nothing was found in the locker. CBI/ED investigated, found nothing," Sisodia had tweeted in response to the allegations.
"Now BJP has come with sting. CBI/ED should also investigate this sting. If the allegations are true, arrest me by Monday. Otherwise, PM ji should apologize to me for doing a false sting," he further wrote.
(With Agency Inputs)