Delhi Liquor Policy Scam: ED raids top businessmen, distributors in AP, TS for second time

Hyderabad: Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided over 40 locations across India including Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in connection with the Delhi liquor policy scam.

The searches are underway at the premises of businessmen, distributors, and supply chain networks in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

On Friday morning, ED conducted raids at multiple locations in Hyderabad and the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. In Nellore, ED teams raided SNJ breweries, V Chalam Mandal in Sarvepalli village. Similar raids are underway in Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Karnataka.

The raids were carried out a day after Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia dared BJP to arrest him following a 'sting operation'.

This is the second round of raids being conducted. On September 6, CBI raided 45 locations in India.

liquor policy is currently being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED), following a directive from Delhi's Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena.

On August 19, sleuths of the CBI conducted raids at the residences of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, IAS officer, and former Delhi excise commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna, and 19 other locations across seven states and Union Territories.

What led to the CBI raid?

It all began when Praveen Kumar Rai, the director of MHA, asked the CBI to inquire into the irregularities in framing and implementation of the Excise policy of the government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) for 2021-22.

The complainant alleged that CM Manish Sisodia, the then Excise commissioner Arva Gopi Krishna, the then Excise deputy commissioner Anand Tiwari, and assistant commissioner (Excise) Pankaj Bhatnagar were instrumental in recommending and taking decisions pertaining to Excise policy 2021-22 without the approval of the competent authority. This was done with an intention to extend undue favors to the liquor license tender, the CBI said.

In its FIR, the CBI said Vijay Nair, the former CEO of Only Much Louder, an entertainment and event management firm; Manoj Rai, a former employee of Pernod Ricard; Amandeep Dhal, owner of Brindco Spirits; and Sameer Mahendru, owner of Indo Spirits are actively involved in irregularities in framing and implementation of the Excise policy.