Delhi Excise Policy: SC Adjourns Hearing on Vijay Nair’s Bail Plea

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (August 27) adjourned the hearing on the bail plea of former Aam Aadmi Party communication in-charge Vijay Nair in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

A bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti deferred the matter after the counsel for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) requested a week’s time to file a counter affidavit.

“Reluctantly, time prayed for is granted,” the bench noted.

On August 12, the top court had issued notice to the ED regarding Nair’s plea, observing that he has been in custody for two years. Representing Nair, senior advocates Abhishek Singhvi and Vikram Chaudhary informed the court on August 12 that Nair was arrested on November 13, 2022, and he has challenged the trial court’s July 29 order denying his default bail plea.

Earlier, on July 3, 2023, the high court refused to grant bail to Nair and other co-accused in the money laundering case.

The money laundering case originates from a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR lodged after Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recommended an investigation into the 2021-22 excise policy, which was later scrapped.

The CBI has alleged that Nair, along with other co-accused, met liquor manufacturers and distributors at various hotels in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi to arrange “ill-gotten money through hawala operators,” which was then provided to the AAP as a kickback in exchange for favors.

It was further alleged that businessman and co-accused Abhishek Boinpally participated in these meetings and was involved in the conspiracy to launder money alongside another accused, liquor businessman Sameer Mahendru.

Following the arrest of Mahendru, the managing director of liquor distributor Indospirit Group, which is based in Delhi’s Jor Bagh, the ED conducted raids at nearly three dozen locations in Delhi and Punjab.

Other accused in the case include former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, former excise commissioner Arva Gopi Krishna, ex-deputy commissioner in the excise department Anand Tiwari, and former assistant commissioner Pankaj Bhatnagar.

As per the CBI and ED, irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy, and undue favors were extended to the license holders. The Delhi government had implemented the excise policy on November 17, 2021, but scrapped it at the end of September 2022 amid allegations of corruption.

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