A bench comprising justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate on August 12, observing that Nair has been in custody for two years.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court is set to hear the bail plea of former Aam Aadmi Party communication in-charge Vijay Nair on August 27 in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
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A bench comprising justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate on August 12, observing that Nair has been in custody for two years.
Senior advocates Abhishek Singhvi and Vikram Chaudhary, representing Nair, argued before the court on August 12 that Nair, arrested on November 13, 2022, is challenging the trial court’s denial of his default bail on July 29. Previously, on July 3 last year, the high court had rejected bail pleas for Nair and his co-accused in the case.
The money laundering charges originate from a CBI FIR lodged after Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena called for an investigation into the 2021-22 excise policy, which was later withdrawn.
The CBI has accused Nair of meeting other co-accused, including liquor manufacturers and distributors, at various hotels in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi to arrange illicit funds through hawala operators, which were allegedly funneled to the AAP as kickbacks in exchange for policy favors.
Additionally, businessman Abhishek Boinpally is accused of participating in these meetings, allegedly conspiring with fellow accused liquor businessman Sameer Mahendru to launder money.
Following Mahendru’s arrest, the ED conducted raids at nearly three dozen locations in Delhi and Punjab. Mahendru, who heads the liquor distribution company Indospirit Group, is based in Delhi’s Jor Bagh.
The Delhi government implemented the excise policy on November 17, 2021, but later scrapped it at the end of September 2022 amid corruption allegations.
Who is Vijay Nair?
Vijay Nair, the former communication in-charge of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), is one of the accused in a case concerning alleged irregularities in the now-canceled 2021-22 excise policy. According to sources, Nair began as a part-time volunteer for AAP before the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, managing the party’s social media communications and marketing.
Nair previously served as the CEO of the entertainment and events management company Only Much Louder (OML), as reported by media. An entrepreneur who dropped out of college, Nair founded OML in Mumbai. The company became known for organizing the NH7 Weekender concerts, promoting independent artists, and fostering comedy groups like East India Comedy and All India Bakchod.
However, during the 2018 Me Too Movement, Nair faced allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment while leading OML. He was accused of creating an environment that enabled sexual harassment, with claims including inappropriate advances and comments towards women.
Nair’s business ventures were significant, and in 2014, he was managing a company worth $10 million. He was also recognized on Fortune India’s 40 under 40 list in 2016.
What are the Charges against Nair?
In November 2022, Nair was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over allegations of involvement in the excise policy scam, in which he allegedly accepted bribes from a liquor firm owner. While he was granted bail in the CBI case, he remained in custody under charges from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He briefly received interim bail on medical grounds in January 2023, but he is currently back in jail.
The CBI’s FIR implicated Nair alongside other figures such as Manoj Rai, a former employee of Pernod Ricard; Amandeep Dhal, owner of Brindco Spirits; and Sameer Mahendru, owner of Indospirit. These individuals were reportedly involved in corruption related to the formulation and execution of the excise policy. Following his arrest, AAP confirmed in a press release that Nair had overseen communication strategies for the party, first in Punjab and later in Gujarat.
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