New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party's national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Saturday alleged that Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has done "large-scale destruction of digital evidence" pertaining to the ongoing excise policy case.


"Large-scale destruction of digital evidence done by ex-excise minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia. 170 mobile phones destroyed by 36 accused in Delhi liquor scam including him," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.


He further alleged that Manish Sisodia changed 4 mobile handsets in one day and 14 handsets in 2-3 months after CBI's FIR against him. "He might have consulted Delhi CM Kejriwal, AAP leader Vijay Nair, liquor scam accused Amit Arora and Sunny Marwah to destroy digital evidence," the BJP leader added.


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Sambit Patra further remarked, "Manish Sisodia has a big role in Delhi excise policy, he is not just neck deep but he is completely involved in the liquor scam in Delhi."

 

On Thursday, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged that minister Kailash Gehlot also changed three handsets and Vijay Nair, communications incharge of the Aam Aadmi Party, changed seven handsets.


"Thirty-six accused in the case destroyed 170 mobile phones worth Rs 1.5 crore," Bhatia said, as per news agency PTI.


The Delhi government's policy to grant licenses to liquor traders was allegedly influenced in favour of certain dealers, who paid bribes for it, an accusation strongly refuted by AAP.


Irregularities were also allegedly committed in modifications in the excise policy, extending undue favours to the licensee, waiver or reduction in licence fee and others.


The CBI has alleged that Manish Sisodia and other accused public servants recommended and took decisions pertaining to the Delhi Excise Policy, 2021-22, without the approval of competent authority with "an intention to extend undue favours to the licensees post tender".


The fresh remarks come ahead of the local body election slated to be held on Sunday where both AAP and BJP are battling each other to win the polls.