[Excise Policy Case] Apex Court Issues Notice on AAP Leader Vijay Nair Bail Plea, Seeks Response Within Two Weeks
Minakshi Bindhani
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A bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti issued a notice to the central agency, requesting a reply within two weeks.
[Excise Policy Case] Apex Court Issues Notice on AAP Leader Vijay Nair Bail Plea, Seeks Response Within Two Weeks
NEW DELHI: On Monday (12th Aug), the Supreme Court sought a response from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the bail plea of Vijay Nair, the former communication in-charge of the Aam Aadmi Party, who is implicated in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
A bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti issued a notice to the central agency, requesting a reply within two weeks.
“The petitioner has been in custody for almost two years since his arrest by the CBI and has remained continuously in ED custody… Issue notice,”
the bench stated.
Senior advocates Abhishek Singhvi and Vikram Chaudhary, representing Nair, highlighted that he has been imprisoned for almost two years. Citing the Manish Sisodia case, they pointed out that there are 353 witnesses, yet the trial has not commenced.
Nair, who was arrested on November 13, 2022, is challenging the trial court’s July 29 order that denied his default bail plea. Previously, the high court had denied bail to Nair and other co-accused in the money laundering case on July 3 of the prior year.
The money laundering case originates from a CBI FIR, which was filed after Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena called for an investigation into the 2021 Delhi excise policy, later revoked.
The CBI alleges that Nair conspired with other co-accused, liquor manufacturers, and distributors in various hotels across Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi to arrange “ill-gotten money” through hawala operators, which was allegedly given to AAP as a kickback in exchange for favors by the Delhi government.
In its chargesheet, the ED accused Nair of acting as a middleman for the ‘South Group,’ allegedly providing Rs 100 crore in kickbacks to the Kejriwal government for entry into the liquor retail business in Delhi. The probe agency alleges that Sameer Mahendru revealed to officials that Nair had arranged a meeting with Kejriwal, and when it didn’t materialize, he facilitated a video call between Mahendru and the Chief Minister.
[Excise Policy Case] Apex Court Issues Notice on AAP Leader Vijay Nair Bail Plea, Seeks Response Within Two Weeks
The CBI also claims that businessman and co-accused Abhishek Boinpally participated in the meetings and was involved in the money laundering conspiracy, along with another accused, liquor businessman Sameer Mahendru.
The ED conducted raids at nearly three dozen locations in Delhi and Punjab following Mahendru’s arrest. Mahendru is the managing director of the liquor distributor Indospirit Group, based in Delhi’s Jor Bagh.
Other accused in the case include former Delhi 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.
The CBI and ED allege that irregularities were committed during the modification of the excise policy, and undue favors were extended to license holders. The Delhi government had implemented the excise policy on November 17, 2021, but it was scrapped at the end of September 2022 amid corruption allegations.
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