Mysterious fire in Enforcement Directorate headquarters in New Delhi

A fire broke out under mysterious circumstances at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) headquarters in New Delhi on Monday afternoon. The agency’s building contains crucial documents pertaining to the 2G scam, Hasan Ali case and the CWG scam.

ED officials have denied any major loss or damage of case files pertaining to the scams. However, sources claim that the damage assessment is yet to be completed.

“I believe some papers or files were damaged, but I cannot say those files were related to any important case. However, we are still assessing extent of damage,” said an official.

The fire started in the office of the ministry of coal and mines at the fifth floor of the Lok Nayak Bhawan and soon spread to the ED office on the sixth floor. Fire department officials said the blaze was reported at around 1.15pm and it took more than an hour to get it under control. The building also houses the offices of the anti corruption wing of the CBI and the home ministry.

The agency has several documents in its possession, seized during its course of investigation into the 2G and CWG scams and tax evader Hasan Ali. In the 2G case, ED had initiated the process of attaching properties of all accused named by the CBI.