Today(17th Sept),The Delhi High Court has granted regular bail to businessmen Amit Arora and Amandeep Singh Dhall in the PMLA case related to the Delhi Excise Policy. With this decision, all individuals accused in the ED’s investigation into the Delhi Excise Policy have now been granted bail.
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NEW DELHI: Today(17th Sept), The Delhi High Court has granted regular bail to prominent businessmen Amit Arora and Amandeep Singh Dhall in connection with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy. This decision represents a significant development in the legal proceedings surrounding the high-profile investigation into alleged corruption and irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.
With this ruling, all individuals accused in the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) investigation into the Delhi Excise Policy case have now secured bail, marking a notable conclusion to a series of legal battles faced by the accused in the matter.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna of the Delhi High Court delivered the verdict, granting relief to both Amit Arora and Amandeep Singh Dhall, two individuals who have been at the center of this case.
The Delhi Excise Policy, which was initially implemented in November 2021, has been the subject of intense scrutiny by both the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Authorities have alleged that the policy, which aimed to reform the liquor distribution system in Delhi, was marred by irregularities. It is claimed that undue favors were granted to specific license holders, leading to significant financial gains for those involved in the alleged corruption.
In September 2022, amid rising allegations of corruption and misconduct, the policy was scrapped. The CBI and ED began investigating the matter, focusing on the involvement of key individuals, including Amit Arora and Amandeep Singh Dhall.
Amit Arora, the director of Gurugram-based Buddy Retail Pvt Ltd, was arrested in November 2022. He was accused of having close ties with former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. The CBI alleged that Arora played a significant role in managing illicit funds that were tied to the issuance of liquor licenses under the Delhi Excise Policy.
The investigation further suggested that Arora was involved in managing kickbacks and illegal transactions, which were funneled through liquor businesses to benefit certain politicians and entities. Despite these allegations, Arora has maintained his innocence throughout the investigation.
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Amandeep Singh Dhall, director of Brindco Sales Private Limited, also faced serious allegations in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case. Dhall was accused of conspiring with others to facilitate substantial kickbacks to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). According to the ED, Dhall’s involvement went beyond merely being a businessman. He was allegedly an active participant in the formulation of the liquor policy and had worked with a cartel of businessmen and politicians, often referred to as the “South Group.”
This group is believed to have played a key role in the manipulation and implementation of the excise policy, ensuring that it favored certain parties, leading to illicit financial gains. Dhall was arrested by the ED in March 2023, and his involvement with the South Group drew significant attention in the media.
The so-called “South Group” is a cartel of influential businessmen and politicians allegedly involved in manipulating the Delhi Excise Policy. The group has been accused of collaborating to channel illegal funds and kickbacks to political entities, most notably the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Both Amit Arora and Amandeep Singh Dhall have been linked to this group, with the ED suggesting that their actions contributed to the misappropriation of funds and corruption linked to the excise policy.
“Dhall is accused of being involved in the formulation of the Delhi liquor policy and facilitating kickbacks to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP),”
– according to statements provided by the ED.
While the Delhi High Court has now granted bail to both Amit Arora and Amandeep Singh Dhall in the money laundering case, the legal proceedings are not entirely over for Dhall. Despite the relief provided by the court in the PMLA case, Dhall still faces a separate corruption case related to the same excise policy investigation.
His bail plea in the corruption case remains pending before the Supreme Court of India. This means that while he has gained temporary relief, his legal battles continue as he seeks to clear his name in the corruption allegations brought forward by the CBI and ED.