Delhi Excise Policy scam: ED raids 35 locations across 3 states

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is running parallel raids at 35 locations across the three states of Telangana, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh, as well as Delhi, in connection with Delhi's Excise Policy scam, IANS reported.

Sources from ED informed that the raids were initiated early on Friday morning. On interrogating an accused, identified as Sameer Mahendru, the agency learnt that Punjab and Andhra Pradesh have links to the case.

In Hyderbad, more teams are conducting raids on premises belonging to manufacturers and businessmen who are suspected to be directly or indirectly involved in the case.

The central probe agency had arrested Sameer Mahendru earlier, the second arrest in the Excise Policy scam, while the first one by the agency. There are allegations that Arun Ramchandra Pillai, a resident of Kokapet in Hyderabad, used to collect undue pecuniary advantage from Mahendru for onward transmission to accused public servant Vijay Nair.

The current raid is the third mass raid ED is conducting in connection with the case. It had raided about a hundred locations so far.

At the moment, ED is collecting the documentary and digital evidence to catch the money trail in money laundering. The agency is weaving a foolproof case to find the layering of laundered money.

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the Union government of dirty politics, NDTV reported. He tweeted that ED and CBI conducted more than 500 raids in 3 months, making more than 300 officers work 24 hours. It was to find evidence against Manish Sisodia, but in vain, he said, adding that it was because Sisodia did nothing.