The Delhi High Court has recently granted an extension until January 4 to the interim bail provided to Arun Ramchandra Pillai, a Hyderabad businessman.
Arun Ramchandra Pillai got arrested in connection with the money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise scam.
This extension had been granted due to the health condition of Arun Ramchandra Pillai’s wife.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, presiding over a vacation bench, issued a notice to the ED based on Pillai’s application.
The court directed those copies of pertinent medical documents be furnished to the counsel representing the anti-money laundering agency for the verification.
The court ordered, “The interim bail granted vide Order dated 18.12.2023 is hereby extended till the next date of hearing. List before the Roster Bench on 04.01.2024.”
On December 18, the trial court granted a 2-week interim bail to Pillai, citing his wife’s need for a surgical procedure.
Senior advocate Mohit Mathur and lawyer Nitesh Rana, representing Pillai, appealed to the high court to prolong his interim bail, citing further complications arising in his wife’s health post-discharge.
Pillai was apprehended by the ED on March 6, with accusations that he represented the “South Group” during meetings with other suspects when the 2021 excise policy was being formulated and executed.
Last year, the excise policy was annulled following a CBI probe ordered by the Delhi lieutenant governor into alleged irregularities and corruption in its formulation & execution.
The ED contends that Pillai is a close associate of Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha, the daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, and the frontman of the “South Group” liquor cartel.
The agency alleges that the “South Group” paid kickbacks of approximately Rs 100 crore to the Aam Aadmi Party to secure a larger share of the liquor market in the national capital under the now-voided Delhi excise policy for 2021-22.
