Delhi Excise Policy: SC to Hear Vijay Nair’s Bail Plea on Aug 27

The Supreme Court is set to hear the bail plea of former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) communication in-charge Vijay Nair on August 27 in connection with a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate on August 12 regarding Nair’s plea, noting 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 has since challenged the trial court’s July 29 order, which dismissed his default bail plea. Previously, on July 3 last year, the high court denied bail to Nair and other co-accused in the money laundering case.

The money laundering case originated 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 subsequently scrapped. The CBI alleges 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 given to the AAP as a kickback in exchange for favours.

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. The ED had conducted raids at nearly three dozen locations in Delhi and Punjab following the arrest of Mahendru, the managing director of the Delhi-based liquor distributor Indospirit Group.

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. According to the CBI and ED, irregularities occurred during the modification of the excise policy, with undue favours being extended to the licence holders. The Delhi government implemented the excise policy on November 17, 2021, but later scrapped it at the end of September 2022 amid corruption allegations.

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