The Excise Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, has been accused by the Enforcement Directorate of destroying evidence saved in digital format.

While seeking the remand of businessman Amit Arora in the Delhi liquor scam, the ED told the Court that the magnitude of the destruction is such that most suspects, liquor barons, senior government officials, the Excise Minister of Delhi and other suspects have changed their phones multiple times.

According to the investigative agency the approximate value of the devices used and destroyed has been to the tune of Rs 1.38 crore approximately.

The ED and the CBI have filed respective chargesheets in the grave financial irregularities reported in Delhi’s New Excise Policy. On 30 November, ED made its sixth arrest in the case by nabbing Sisodia’s close aide and owner of Gurgaon based liquor firm, Buddy Retail Private Limited.

As per ED, evidence with respect to the liquor scam was stored in digital formats, both on mobile phones and laptops.

However, when the scam was unearthed and investigative agencies came into the picture, a large number of digital devices were found to be destroyed or changed by the persons involved or suspected to be involved in this case.

Amit Arora has revealed that he is one of the key persons who with Dinesh Arora assisted Vijay Nair along with excise officials, the minister in charge and others involved in the scam.

He provided the necessary know-how to carry out the scam in collusion with Dinesh Arora and Vijay Nair, both of whom are in ED’s custody.

He along with Dinesh Arora established connection between the cartel of manufacturers, retail and wholesalers on the one hand and the AAP government on the other.

Further, he facilitated the transfer of a bribe of Rs. 2.5 crore which was the 6 per cent kickback to be given to Vijay Nair on behalf of the AAP leaders (some of them being part of the government). In addition, he connived with the excise officials and bribed them.

The Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday sent Amit Arora, to ED remand in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy scam money laundering case.

Other accused named are the then Excise Commissioner Arva Gopi Krishna, Deputy Commissioner Anand Tiwari and Assistant Commissioner Pankaj Bhatnagar. 

(with inputs from PTI)