ED's BIG action in Delhi Excise Policy case, arrests AAP's media incharge Vijay Nair, businessman Abhishek Boinpally

New Delhi: Taking big action in connection with its ongoing investigation into the Delhi Excise Policy scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday arrested Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) media promotion in-charge Vijay Nair and businessman Abhishek Boinpally. They have been arrested under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), said reports. Earlier, the two were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and remanded into judicial custody after questioning. They were arrested hours ahead of scheduled hearing on their bail plea by the special PMLA court later today. .

The CBI had arrested Boinpally in framing and implementation of the excise policy of GNCTD of Delhi. A prominent businessman from Hyderabad, Boinpally`s name had cropped up during the course of investigation. He was called to join the probe but did not cooperate with the probe agency and allegedly tried to mislead it. He was not named in the FIR.

Nair, Delhi`s Jor Bagh-based businessman, was the first one to be arrested by the CBI. Acording to soiurces, the Enforcement Directorate will seek their custody from the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court for questining them in the case.

The Hyderabad-based businessman is alleged to have been lobbying for certain liquor businessmen based in southern India, according to the CBI. Nair, a former CEO of an event management company who is closely linked to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP),is alleged to have entered into a criminal conspiracy with others, and in furtherance of the conspiracy related to the excise policy of the government of the national capital territory of Delhi (GNCTD) of 2021-2022.

The ED earlier arrested Sameer Mahandru, promoter of liquor company Indospirit, general manager of liquor company Pernod Ricard, Benoy Babu, and P Sarath Chandra Reddy, whole-time director and promoter of Aurobindo Pharma.

The agency has so far conducted searches at as many as 169 locations. The money laundering case stems from a CBI FIR that had named Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia as an accused among others. The CBI had raided the premises of Sisodia and some Delhi government bureaucrats after filing the case.

(With Agency Inputs)