Court takes cognisance of ED’s charge-sheet against 17 accused in Delhi excise policy case
The Hindu
The agency has alleged that a part of the ‘kickback’ was used for the Aam Aadmi Party’s poll campaign ahead of the Goa Assembly election in 2022
A special court on Thursday took cognisance of the second charge-sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against 17 accused in the money-laundering case related to the alleged irregularities in the implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 under Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and others.
The agency has alleged that a part of the “kickback” was used for the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) poll campaign ahead of the Goa Assembly election in 2022. Cash payments amounting to ₹70 lakh were made to volunteers who were part of survey teams. The fund transfers were managed via “hawala” channels, according to the charge-sheet.
The court has directed the accused persons/entities to be present physically during the next hearing scheduled for February 23. Taking cognisance, Special Judge M.K. Nagpal said the evidence put forth by the ED was sufficient to proceed further.
Among those arraigned in the latest charge-sheet are Sameer Mahandru, Khao Gali Restaurants, Bubbly Beverages, Indo Spirits, Indospirit Distribution, then AAP communication in-charge Vijay Nair, P. Sarath Chandra Reddy, Trident Chemphar, Sri Avantika Contractors, Organomix Ecosystems, Benoy Babu, Pernod Ricard India, Abhishek Boinpally, Amit Arora, KSJM Spirits LLP, Buddy Retail, and Popular Spirits. Mr. Sisodia is not listed as an accused.
The agency has alleged that Mr. Nair — on behalf of the AAP leaders — received ₹100 crore as kickback in advance from a group whose prominent persons were Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, Raghav Magunta, Mr. Sarath and K. Kavitha. For the recovery of payments, the group partners were given 65% stakes in Mr. Mahandru’s Indo Spirits. The group controlled the stakes through “false representation, concealment of true ownership and proxies”.
In his statement to the ED, as mentioned in the charge-sheet, Mr. Mahandru said that Mr. Nair was an important person in the AAP and was managing the excise policy issues in Delhi. He told Mr. Mahandru that “the new excise policy was a brainchild of Arvind Kejriwal”.
“To verify the credibility, clout and influence” of Mr. Nair, Mr. Mahandru sought a meeting with Mr. Kejriwal through him. As per the statement of the accused, Mr. Nair fixed a meeting twice, but it did not materialise. “So, Vijay [Nair] made Sameer [Mahandru] speak to Arvind Kejriwal on facetime call,” said the purported statement.
Falling percentages, failing work conditions: A deeper look into women’s employment in India Premium
It’s no secret that the number of women in the labour market is significantly lesser than that of men, but did you know that in India, when it comes to rural women in labour force, the number is not just low, but has been almost steadily declining over the years?