News Analysis India

Tag: Delhi excise policy

  • ‘Arrested without proper investigation’: RJD MP Manoj Jha on interim bail to Kejriwal

    Hailing the Supreme Court verdict granting interim bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the Delhi excise policy case, RJD MP Manoj Jha on Saturday said he was ‘happy’ with the reprieve for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as he was arrested without a ‘proper investigation’.

    Speaking to on Saturday, the RJD leader said, “He (Kejriwal) was arrested without a proper investigation just as (former Jharkhand CM) Hemant Soren-ji and several others. We are happy that he was granted (interim) bail and allowed to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. If he (Hemant Soren) gets bail, they (BJP) will be wiped out of Jharkhand as well.”

    Earlier, on Saturday, the Delhi CM was granted interim bail after 50 days of incarceration at the Tihar jail following his arrest by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in the excise policy case. The AAP supremo was arrested on March 21, after several hours of questioning.The Delhi CM was granted a 22-day reprieve, till June 1, on the condition that he shall not visit the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) or the Secretariat. AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther StatesAs per the court order, Kejriwal was asked to furnish bail bonds of Rs 50,000 with one surety of the same amount. He was asked to surrender on June 2, which coincides with the final day of polling for the 18th Lok Sabha.While granting Kejriwal interim bail, the apex court said he would not interact with any of the witnesses or have access to official files connected with the case.He also can’t “make any comment with regard to his role” in the present case, the bench ordered.The bench also made it clear that the grant of interim bail will not be treated as an expression of its opinion on the merits of the case or the criminal appeal which is pending for its consideration.

    Earlier, in April, AAP MP Sanjay Singh was released on bail from Tihar jail in the liquor policy case following an order by the apex court. Singh was released after spending over six months in jail in connection with the case.

  • Arvind Kejriwal: Arvind Kejriwal’s health has deteriorated in ED custody: AAP sources

    The blood sugar level of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is diabetic, is fluctuating and his health has deteriorated in Enforcement Directorate custody, AAP sources claimed on Wednesday. Arvind Kejriwal’s blood sugar level dropped to 46 Mg at one point of time and according to doctors, such a drop is “very dangerous”, they claimed.

    Earlier in the day, the chief minister’s wife Sunita Kejriwal said in a digital briefing that she had met him in ED custody and his sugar level was fluctuating. She appealed people to pray for his health.

    Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the ED last week in connection with the money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. He is in ED custody till March 28. The chief minister has challenged his arrest in court.

  • Arvind Kejriwal ED custody: Setback for AAP: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal sent to ED custody till March 28 in liquor case

    In a massive development, a Delhi court on Friday sent Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to the Enforcement Directorate’s custody till March 28, a day after his arrest in the excise policy-linked money laundering case.

    Reportedly, Special Judge Kaveri Baweja at the Rouse Avenue court said that Kejriwal will be produced before the court on March 28 at 2 p.m.

    During the proceedings, ED told a special PMLA court that Arvind Kejriwal is kingpin and key conspirator of Delhi liquor scam in collusion with his ministers, AAP leaders.Arvind Kejriwal “took advantage” of being the chief minister of Delhi to facilitate money laundering by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is a “major beneficiary” of the proceeds of crimes generated in the alleged liquor scam case, the ED claimed.

    “Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of NCT of Delhi is the kingpin and key conspirator of the Delhi Excise scam in collusion with ministers of Delhi government, AAP leaders and other persons,” the federal agency informed a special PMLA court while seeking his custody.

    It claimed in its remand papers that “Arvind Kejriwal was involved in the conspiracy of formulation of the excise policy 2021-22 to favour certain persons and also involved in the demanding of kickbacks from liquor businessmen in exchange of favours granting in the said policy.”Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate, sought a 10-day remand of Kejriwal in the trial court. The investigating agency informed the court that Kejriwal was the key conspirators in the liquor scam, in addition to another ministers and leaders of AAP.”Kejriwal acted as the middleman between the ‘South group’ and the accused in the liquor scam,” the ED has alleged. Kejriwal received several crores of rupees as kickbacks from this group for formulating and implementing the Delhi Excise Policy, ED has alleged.

    Ahead of the Punjab elections, Kejriwal had demanded Rs 100 crore from some accused from the South group, ED claimed.

    “AAP is not an individual, but a company. So every person responsible for conduct of a company will be held responsible,” ED alleged in the court.

    Raju submitted that the proceeds of crime are not only just Rs 100 crore. “Hawala trails of Rs 45 crores traced, the money was used in Goa election,” ASG said.

    The ED counsel claimed that Vijay Nair, who was the media in charge of AAP, was working for Delhi CM Kejriwal. Nair, who the agency said lives adjacent to the residence of Kejriwal and acted as a middleman between the AAP and the ‘South Group’.

    Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Kejriwal opposed the remand plea and submitted that the agency needs to show the necessity to arrest. Singhvi argued that the power of arrest and the necessity of arrest are two different things.

    Singhvi said that in the history of 75 years of independence this is the first time a sitting chief minister is arrested, the first time four leaders of his party are arrested. Singhvi further said it’s like having the result before the first vote is cast.

  • Kavitha arrest: Excise policy case: Delhi court sends BRS MLC K Kavitha to ED custody till March 23

    Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court on Saturday granted custody remand of BRS MLC K Kavitha to the Enforcement Directorate till March 23. ED sought ten days remand of K Kavitha in connection with Delhi Excise policy case.

    ED had brought MLC K Kavitha before Special Judge M K Nagpal after arresting her from Hyderabad.

    Terming her arrest illegal, the MLC said, “We will fight it out in court.”Her lawyer characterized her arrest as a blatant abuse of power, accusing the ED of violating a Supreme Court order.

    “This arrest is a blatant abuse of power. They have clearly violated the Supreme Court orders which have protected us,” said Vikram Chaudhari, a lawyer for BRS MLC K. Kavitha, before the Delhi court.

    The Central agency questioned Kavitha thrice last year and again summoned her this year but she did not depose, citing a Supreme Court direction that allowed her protection from any coercive action.Allegedly, one of the accused in the case, Vijay Nair, received kickbacks to the tune of at least Rs 100 crore on behalf of the AAP leaders from the “south group”, allegedly controlled by Sarath Reddy, Kavitha and Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy.Kavitha has asserted that she has done nothing wrong and alleged that the Centre was “using” the ED as the BJP could not gain a “backdoor entry” into Telangana.

    The “South Group”, according to the ED, comprises Sarath Reddy (promoter of Aurobindo Pharma), Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy (YSR Congress MP from Ongole Lok Sabha seat in Andhra Pradesh), his son Raghav Magunta, Kavitha and others.

    In the excise policy case, The agency alleged the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge strongly refuted by the AAP.

    The policy was subsequently scrapped and the Delhi Lieutenant Governor recommended a CBI probe, following which the ED registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)

  • BRS leader K Kavitha taken into custody, say reports

    Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) MLC K Kavitha was taken into custody on Friday evening. The development came hours after Income Tax Department (I-T) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials conducted searches at her Hyderabad residence, according to media reports. Earlier on Friday, at least 10 officers from both agencies from New Delhi had conducted searches in the presence of Kavitha and her husband D Anil Kumar.

    It was not clear if the action is linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy linked case of the central agency in which the ED has questioned the BRS MLC and daughter of former Telangana chief minister Chandrashekar Rao, PTI reported citing official sources.

    The ED had claimed Kavitha was linked to a “South Group” lobby of liquor traders who were trying to play a larger role under the now scrapped Delhi excise policy for 2021-22.Reacting to the searches, BRS spokesperson Sravan Dasoju alleged that the raids were politically motivated and both BJP and Congress are hand-in-glove to harass leaders of the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led party.

    “Wherever ( Prime Minister Narendra) Modi goes ED and IT ( Income Tax) either precedes or succeeds. That is what is happening in Telangana. They want to create a panic situation in the BRS. The ED and IT which are working at the behest of BJP are not bothered about the Congress leaders of Telangana who have illegally obtained so much wealth,” the BRS leader told PTI.

    Sravan sought to know why the BJP is “tightlipped” on the cases against Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.“We believe in Satyameva Jayate. Let the truth prevail. We are not saying that IT and ED should not do their jobs, but the selectiveness is vindictiveness. Just before the elections, they are trying to do this mudslinging to dent the image of the BRS,” he added.The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that one of the accused in the case, Vijay Nair, received kickbacks to the tune of at least Rs 100 crore from the “South Group” (allegedly controlled by Sarath Reddy, Kavitha and Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy) on behalf of leaders of the AAP.

    (With inputs from PTI)

  • Sisodia will have to ‘face the music’ in Excise policy ‘scam’ case, says BJP

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The BJP on Saturday claimed that the AAP used the Delhi Excise policy to “receive kickbacks” and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who was “instrumental” in framing it will “face the music and the law”.

    Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy have been weaving stories through press conferences to spread a “lie” that there was no “scam” in the implementation of the excise policy and that Sisodia was innocent, alleged BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra.

    An immediate reaction was not available from the AAP on the issue.

    “The probe against Sisodia is underway and the allegations against him are very serious,” Patra said at a press conference citing the remand note of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) presented in a court recently against a liquor “scam” accused Amit Arora.

    A case against Sisodia and several other persons was registered by the CBI in August this year over the alleged irregularities in the implementation of Excise Policy 2021-22.

    The policy implemented in November 2021 was scrapped by the Kejriwal government after the CBI probe into it was recommended by Delhi LG VK Saxena.

    A study of the excise policy leaves no one in doubt that Sisodia will have to “face the music and the law”, Patra claimed.

    Citing the remand note, Patra said Sisodia along with top Excise officials who are suspended now, were “instrumental” in framing the Excise policy without required approvals to provide “undue benefits” to liquor licensees.

    “The excise policy was a device used by the AAP to receive kickbacks,” he alleged.

    The AAP dispensation had earlier assailed the BJP and its government at the Centre for trying to frame Sisodia and send him behind bars to prevent the good works of the Delhi government.

    NEW DELHI: The BJP on Saturday claimed that the AAP used the Delhi Excise policy to “receive kickbacks” and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who was “instrumental” in framing it will “face the music and the law”.

    Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy have been weaving stories through press conferences to spread a “lie” that there was no “scam” in the implementation of the excise policy and that Sisodia was innocent, alleged BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra.

    An immediate reaction was not available from the AAP on the issue.

    “The probe against Sisodia is underway and the allegations against him are very serious,” Patra said at a press conference citing the remand note of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) presented in a court recently against a liquor “scam” accused Amit Arora.

    A case against Sisodia and several other persons was registered by the CBI in August this year over the alleged irregularities in the implementation of Excise Policy 2021-22.

    The policy implemented in November 2021 was scrapped by the Kejriwal government after the CBI probe into it was recommended by Delhi LG VK Saxena.

    A study of the excise policy leaves no one in doubt that Sisodia will have to “face the music and the law”, Patra claimed.

    Citing the remand note, Patra said Sisodia along with top Excise officials who are suspended now, were “instrumental” in framing the Excise policy without required approvals to provide “undue benefits” to liquor licensees.

    “The excise policy was a device used by the AAP to receive kickbacks,” he alleged.

    The AAP dispensation had earlier assailed the BJP and its government at the Centre for trying to frame Sisodia and send him behind bars to prevent the good works of the Delhi government.

  • CBI refutes allegation made by Delhi Dy CM Sisodia that he was threatened to leave AAP 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The CBI on Monday refuted the allegation levelled by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia that during his questioning in the Delhi excise scam case, he was threatened to quit the AAP.

    In a statement, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said that Sisodia was examined strictly on the allegations in the FIR and the evidence collected so far during the course of the investigation.

    “His statement will be verified in due course and further action taken as per requirements of the investigation,” the agency said.

    The CBI said some sections of the media have aired a video in which, after leaving the CBI office, Sisodia stated on camera that during his questioning, he was threatened to leave his political party and similar such insinuations.

    “The CBI strongly refutes these allegations and reiterates that the examination of Sisodia was carried out in a professional and legal manner strictly as per the allegations against him in the FIR. The investigation of the case will continue as per the law,” it said.

    Sisodia was questioned on Monday for over nine hours at the CBI headquarters in connection with Delhi Excise policy scam case.

    After his questioning, Sisodia alleged that he was pressured to quit the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

    CBI issues a statement after quizzing Delhi Dy CM Manish Sisodia for 9 hrs in excise policy case; “CBI strongly refutes these allegations (of Delhi Dy CM Sisodia) & reiterates that his examination was carried out in a professional & legal manner. Probe to continue as per law.” https://t.co/7Ex2N0lpWh
    — ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2022
    “Pressure was put on me to quit AAP. I was offered Delhi CM’s post or face jail term,” he said. He has said according to BJP there is a Rs 10,000 crore excise scam.

    “I found at the CBI office that there is no scam and the case is fake. The fake case against me is a conspiracy to make BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’ success in Delhi,” Sisodia told reporters.

    NEW DELHI: The CBI on Monday refuted the allegation levelled by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia that during his questioning in the Delhi excise scam case, he was threatened to quit the AAP.

    In a statement, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said that Sisodia was examined strictly on the allegations in the FIR and the evidence collected so far during the course of the investigation.

    “His statement will be verified in due course and further action taken as per requirements of the investigation,” the agency said.

    The CBI said some sections of the media have aired a video in which, after leaving the CBI office, Sisodia stated on camera that during his questioning, he was threatened to leave his political party and similar such insinuations.

    “The CBI strongly refutes these allegations and reiterates that the examination of Sisodia was carried out in a professional and legal manner strictly as per the allegations against him in the FIR. The investigation of the case will continue as per the law,” it said.

    Sisodia was questioned on Monday for over nine hours at the CBI headquarters in connection with Delhi Excise policy scam case.

    After his questioning, Sisodia alleged that he was pressured to quit the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

    CBI issues a statement after quizzing Delhi Dy CM Manish Sisodia for 9 hrs in excise policy case; “CBI strongly refutes these allegations (of Delhi Dy CM Sisodia) & reiterates that his examination was carried out in a professional & legal manner. Probe to continue as per law.” https://t.co/7Ex2N0lpWh
    — ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2022
    “Pressure was put on me to quit AAP. I was offered Delhi CM’s post or face jail term,” he said. He has said according to BJP there is a Rs 10,000 crore excise scam.

    “I found at the CBI office that there is no scam and the case is fake. The fake case against me is a conspiracy to make BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’ success in Delhi,” Sisodia told reporters.

  • Manish Sisodia arrives at CBI headquarters for questioning in excise policy case

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The CBI on Monday started questioning Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the alleged scam in Delhi excise policy being probed by it, officials said.

    Sisodia went to his party office in the morning from where he proceeded to Rajghat. A large number of his supporters gathered outside his residence ahead of his questioning. He arrived at the CBI headquarters around 11.15 am and was taken straight to the first floor of the Anti-Corruption Branch, the officials said.

    The CBI had registered an FIR in a special court here in August against Sisodia and 14 others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 477A (falsification of records), and section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which deals with taking undue advantage to influence a public servant by corrupt or illegal means, or by the exercise of personal influence.

    Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena had recommended a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the formulation and execution of the Delhi excise policy, which was brought out in November last year, the officials said.

    ALSO READ: Delhi CM Kejriwal compares Sisodia, Jain with Bhagat Singh

    Following the registration of the FIR, the CBI had conducted searches at the premises of Sisodia and opened his locker at a bank in Ghaziabad, they said.

    The FIR has flagged payments in crores allegedly made to “close associates” of Sisodia by Sameer Mahendru, owner of Indospirits, one of the liquor traders actively involved in irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy.

    The FIR alleged that Sisodia’s “close associates” Amit Arora, director of Buddy Retail Pvt.

    ALSO READ: Probes ordered by L-G politically motivated, unconstitutional: Manish Sisodia

    Limited in Gurugram, Dinesh Arora and Arjun Pandey were “actively involved in managing and diverting the undue pecuniary advantage collected from liquor licensees” for the accused public servants.

    The CBI is also questioning Raghava Reddy, the son of YSRCP Lok Sabha MP Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, in the case, officials said.

    NEW DELHI: The CBI on Monday started questioning Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the alleged scam in Delhi excise policy being probed by it, officials said.

    Sisodia went to his party office in the morning from where he proceeded to Rajghat. A large number of his supporters gathered outside his residence ahead of his questioning. He arrived at the CBI headquarters around 11.15 am and was taken straight to the first floor of the Anti-Corruption Branch, the officials said.

    The CBI had registered an FIR in a special court here in August against Sisodia and 14 others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 477A (falsification of records), and section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which deals with taking undue advantage to influence a public servant by corrupt or illegal means, or by the exercise of personal influence.

    Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena had recommended a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the formulation and execution of the Delhi excise policy, which was brought out in November last year, the officials said.

    ALSO READ: Delhi CM Kejriwal compares Sisodia, Jain with Bhagat Singh

    Following the registration of the FIR, the CBI had conducted searches at the premises of Sisodia and opened his locker at a bank in Ghaziabad, they said.

    The FIR has flagged payments in crores allegedly made to “close associates” of Sisodia by Sameer Mahendru, owner of Indospirits, one of the liquor traders actively involved in irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy.

    The FIR alleged that Sisodia’s “close associates” Amit Arora, director of Buddy Retail Pvt.

    ALSO READ: Probes ordered by L-G politically motivated, unconstitutional: Manish Sisodia

    Limited in Gurugram, Dinesh Arora and Arjun Pandey were “actively involved in managing and diverting the undue pecuniary advantage collected from liquor licensees” for the accused public servants.

    The CBI is also questioning Raghava Reddy, the son of YSRCP Lok Sabha MP Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, in the case, officials said.

  • Delhi excise policy: ED conducts fresh raids at 35 locations 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The ED on Friday launched fresh raids in connection with its money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, official sources said.

    The searches are being carried out at about 35 locations in Delhi, Punjab and some places in Hyderabad, they said.

    Some liquor distributors, companies and linked entities are being searched, the sources said.

    The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted more than 103 raids in this case till now and had also arrested Sameer Mahandru, a liquor businessman and managing director of liquor manufacturing company Indospirit last month in the case.

    The money laundering case stems from a CBI FIR.

    The liquor scheme came under the scanner after the Delhi LG recommended a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of Delhi’s Excise Policy 2021-22.

    He had also suspended 11 excise officials in the matter.

    NEW DELHI: The ED on Friday launched fresh raids in connection with its money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, official sources said.

    The searches are being carried out at about 35 locations in Delhi, Punjab and some places in Hyderabad, they said.

    Some liquor distributors, companies and linked entities are being searched, the sources said.

    The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted more than 103 raids in this case till now and had also arrested Sameer Mahandru, a liquor businessman and managing director of liquor manufacturing company Indospirit last month in the case.

    The money laundering case stems from a CBI FIR.

    The liquor scheme came under the scanner after the Delhi LG recommended a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of Delhi’s Excise Policy 2021-22.

    He had also suspended 11 excise officials in the matter.

  • Pan-India raids: ED searches 40 locations as part of Delhi liquor policy case

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The ED on Friday launched fresh raids at about 40 locations across the country as part of a money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in the now scrapped Delhi Excise Policy, official sources said.

    The searches are being conducted at premises linked to liquor businessmen, distributors and supply chain networks in Nellore and some other cities in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Delhi-NCR, they said.

    This is the second round of raids being conducted by the federal agency in this case after it first conducted searches on September 6 at about 45 locations across the country.

    The Enforcement Directorate (ED) case of money laundering in the excise policy stems from a CBI FIR in which Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and some bureaucrats have been named as accused.

    The excise policy has been rolled back now.

    The CBI conducted raids in the case on August 19, covering the Delhi residences of Sisodia (50), IAS officer and former Delhi excise commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna, and 19 other locations across seven states and Union Territories.

    Sisodia holds multiple portfolios in the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government including excise and education.

    The ED is probing if alleged irregularities were done in the formulation and execution of the Delhi Excise Policy brought out in November last year and if some alleged “proceeds of crime” in terms of tainted money was generated by the accused.

    The agency also is expected to question AAP leader and minister Satyendar Jain in the Tihar jail in connection with this case on Friday after it obtained permission from a local court to do so.

    NEW DELHI: The ED on Friday launched fresh raids at about 40 locations across the country as part of a money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in the now scrapped Delhi Excise Policy, official sources said.

    The searches are being conducted at premises linked to liquor businessmen, distributors and supply chain networks in Nellore and some other cities in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Delhi-NCR, they said.

    This is the second round of raids being conducted by the federal agency in this case after it first conducted searches on September 6 at about 45 locations across the country.

    The Enforcement Directorate (ED) case of money laundering in the excise policy stems from a CBI FIR in which Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and some bureaucrats have been named as accused.

    The excise policy has been rolled back now.

    The CBI conducted raids in the case on August 19, covering the Delhi residences of Sisodia (50), IAS officer and former Delhi excise commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna, and 19 other locations across seven states and Union Territories.

    Sisodia holds multiple portfolios in the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government including excise and education.

    The ED is probing if alleged irregularities were done in the formulation and execution of the Delhi Excise Policy brought out in November last year and if some alleged “proceeds of crime” in terms of tainted money was generated by the accused.

    The agency also is expected to question AAP leader and minister Satyendar Jain in the Tihar jail in connection with this case on Friday after it obtained permission from a local court to do so.