Delhi excise policy 'scam': Know about the case, key accused on bail, approvers and more

TOI City Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Sep 14, 2024, 07:40 IST

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The Supreme Court has granted bail to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in a corruption case involving the state's 2021-22 excise policy. The court highlighted that prolonged incarceration is an unjust deprivation of liberty and directed Kejriwal not to comment publicly on the case's merits. He posted a bail bond of Rs 10 lakh.

Delhi excise policy 'scam': Know about the case, key accused on bail, approvers and more

Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh

NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal became the fourth Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader to secure bail in the Delhi excise policy case, following a Supreme Court decision.
This case, investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), is connected to allegations against Kejriwal and other political figures regarding the 2021-22 Delhi liquor policy.
Manish Sisodia, the former Deputy CM, MP Sanjay Singh, and Vijay Nair, AAP's former communications head, had already been granted bail prior to Kejriwal.
The case revolves around allegations that political leaders intentionally created loopholes in the now-repealed Delhi liquor policy. The investigation was initiated following a complaint by Delhi LG VK Saxena and is being conducted by both the CBI and the ED.

The Supreme Court granted Kejriwal interim bail in the ED case on July 12, 2024, while referring broader legal questions regarding the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to a larger Bench. However, Kejriwal remained in prison due to the CBI's arrest.
Kejriwal then sought bail from the Delhi high court, which directed him to first approach the trial court. Following this, Kejriwal filed an appeal with the Supreme Court, which has now delivered its verdict, granting him bail in the CBI case as well.

➤

CBI case details

In November 2021, the Delhi government introduced a new liquor policy for 2021-2022. By July 2022, LG VK Saxena had called for a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the policy. The CBI subsequently filed a case against 15 persons, including then-Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, and raided Sisodia's home. By September 2022, the Delhi government had scrapped the excise policy.
On November 14, 2022, the ED arrested Vijay Nair, a former CEO linked to AAP, and Hyderabad businessman Abhishek Boinpally. Further, CBI had filed charges against seven people. On February 26, 2023, the CBI arrested Sisodia after eight hours of questioning.
The ED then issued its first summons to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on March 21. Between October 2023 and March 2024, the ED issued nine summonses to Kejriwal. On March 21, 2024, the high court refused to grant protection from arrest, and the ED arrested Kejriwal.
On May 10, 2024, the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal interim bail until June 1 to campaign in the Lok Sabha elections. Kejriwal surrendered at Tihar Jail on June 2. On June 20, the trial court granted him regular bail, but the ED moved the high court to challenge this order on June 21. The high court stayed the bail on June 25, prompting AAP to move the Supreme Court. On the same day, the CBI also arrested Kejriwal.

➤Key accused on bail in excise case
1) Manish Sisodia - former deputy CM

Accused of tweaking the 2021 excise policy to extend undue favours to licence holders who are private persons.
Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also accused him of being involved in money laundering and invoked Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Arrested by CBI on Feb 26, 2023, and by ED 12 days later. Got bail from Supreme Court on Aug 9, 2024.

2) Sanjay Singh - AAP Rajya Sabha member

Accused under PMLA by ED as a key conspirator in the alleged Delhi liquor scam.
Allegedly took 2 crore as bribe from accused-turned-approver Dinesh Arora.
Arrested on Oct 4, 2023, released by SC on bail in April 2024.

3) K Kavitha - BRS legislator

ED alleges that Kavitha conspired with the members of South Group and AAP to provide Rs 100 crore bribe to the party for undue benefits.
CBI has also booked her on corruption charges.
She was arrested by ED on March 15, 2024, and later by CBI from Tihar Jail.
Released on bail by SC on Aug 27

4) Vijay Nair - former communication in-charge of AAP and allegedly close aide of Sisodia

One of the first to be arrested by CBI on Sept 27, 2022. He was arrested by ED in Nov the same year.
Accused of acting on behalf of CM Arvind Kejriwal in changing provisions of liquor policy.
ED alleged that he laundered Rs 20-30 crore through hawala transactions from South Group and invoked PMLA. Granted bail by SC on Sept 3, 2024

5) Arun Pillai - Hyderabad-based businessman

Arrested by ED on March 6, 2023, on allegations that he represented South Group at meetings with other accused and got the excise policy tweaked.
It was alleged that Pillai is a close aide of Kavitha and the frontman for South Group.
Also booked by CBI, but not arrested. Delhi HC granted bail on Sept 11, 2024.

6) Abhishek Boinpalli - businessman and close associate of Pillai

Arrested by CBI on Oct 10, 2022, and ED on Nov 14 the same year.
Accused of working for South Group to get benefits in the liquor policy.
ED has accused him of money laundering. On interim bail granted by SC on March 20, 2024.

7) Sameer Mahendru - liquor businessman, owner of Indospirit

Arrested by CBI on Sept 7, 2022, and later by ED the same year.
Accused of paying bribes of Rs 4.5 crore to AAP in exchange for a licence and other benefits.
Booked by ED under PMLA. Granted bail by Delhi HC on Sept 9, 2024.

➤ Accused-turned approvers
1) Dinesh Arora- a key figure who became an approver for CBI and ED

Accused by ED of being ‘personally involved in handling or transmission of advanced kickback amounts of around Rs 35-36 crore’.
Arrested by ED on July 6, 2023, but was granted bail exactly a month later.
Turns approver, gets pardon.

2) Raghav Magunta-another accused who is now a witness/approver

A member of South Group and son of a former YSRCP MP, Magunta was arrested by ED on Feb 10, 2023.
ED alleges he participated in the generation, acquisition and use of proceeds of crime of Rs 192.8 crore.
Granted bail by Delhi HC on Aug 10, 2023, and turned approver for ED

3) Sarath Reddy- alleged to be part of South Group

ED accuses him of controlling five retail zones through his companies.
Arrested on Nov 10, 2022 by ED and granted bail by Delhi HC on May 8, 2023.
Turns approver for ED, on whose statement it arrests Kejriwal.

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