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Delhi’s Liquor Data Manipulated? CAG Report Uncovers Tracking Failures

February 25, 2025, 3:01 pm

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has uncovered major lapses in Delhi’s Excise Supply Chain Information Management System (ESCIMS), designed to track liquor movement from distilleries to retail outlets. Operational since 2013, the system has failed to prevent stock tampering and illegal liquor sales, raising concerns over revenue loss and black-market activities.

Liquor Tracking System Fails to Prevent Manipulation

The CAG report points to fundamental loopholes in ESCIMS, which must allow for smooth tracing of liquor sales. However, findings indicate rampant manipulation and weak enforcement. The key issues are:

28% of liquor bottles sold without barcode scanning: This renders impossible the tracing of origin of nearly 28% of stock, which raises the chances of illegal sales.
Manual stock reconciliation compromises system integrity: Retail liquor vends bypassed electronic tracking, using manual procedures that were error-prone and manipulable.
Fake barcodes detected: These counterfeit labels pose a risk for duty-paid liquor entering the supply chain and creating the potential for smuggling and tax avoidance.

Smuggling and Revenue Loss a Growing Concern

The non-execution of real-time tracking of liquor puts the Delhi government at risk of heavy revenue loss. Experts say that the absence of monitoring can lead to smuggling operations running at a huge scale, causing the state exchequer to lose hundreds of crores.

With continued interrogation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Excise Department is facing increased pressure to close gaps, enforce stricter compliance, and stop more revenue loss.

Expected Policy Reforms During Investigations

Delhi’s excise system has several mismanagement problems, which are exacerbated by the tracking failures that were discovered. Procedural lapses, threats of monopolization, and licensing violations are already in focus.

Coming months will decide the fate to assign responsibility and facilitate policy interventions to ensure an open and more efficient excise system as the central agencies augment their probe.

CAG Report Exposes Key Lapses: ₹2,000+ Cr Loss Under AAP’s Liquor Policy

February 25, 2025, 1:54 pm

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, presented in the Delhi Assembly on Tuesday, disclosed that errors in the 2021-22 liquor policy during the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government resulted in financial losses of over Rs 2,000 crore. The report quoted revenue losses, irregularities in licenses, and violations of zoning, blaming former Deputy Chief Minister and Excise Minister Manish Sisodia for ignoring expert advice.

Major Revenue Losses Due to Licensing Failures

The CAG report had put the revenue loss at Rs 941.53 crore on account of the delay in receiving permissions for opening liquor vends in non-conforming municipal wards—those zones not approved for liquor sale under zoning regulations. This took a heavy toll on the Delhi government’s revenues.

Besides, the Excise Department lost Rs 890.15 crore when 19 zonal licensees handed over their licenses. The department did not re-tender these liquor zones and, as a result, earned no revenue from these zones at all.

Irregular Waiver of Rs 144 Crore in Licence Fees

The report also raised a red flag against an irregular waiver of Rs 144 crore allowed to liquor licensees given COVID-19 restrictions. Sisodia approved this waiver himself despite the objection from the finance department.

“Despite being mentioned in the conditions of tender document that any commercial risk shall lie with the licensee, clarification provided during the pre-bid meeting that there is no provision for force majeure and against the opinion of the excise department to relax the license fees, a waiver of license fees of ₹144 crore was granted to the zonal licenses on the basis of COVID restrictions (December 28, 2021 to Janaury 27, 2022) resulting in loss of revenue to the government,” reads the report.

Policy Transgressions and Implementation Failures

The CAG report laid bare some important violations in implementing the liquor policy:

The Delhi Master Plan 2021 banned liquor vends in non-conforming zones, but the Excise Policy 2021-22 had specified a minimum of two retail vends per ward.
Even though there were apparent zoning rules, licences were issued prior to resolving these issues.

On 16th November 2021, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) prohibited liquor vends in non-conforming areas, which resulted in a court case when licence holders were finally exempted from paying Rs 114.50 crore each month in licence fees.

Political Fallout and BJP’s Allegations

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also long accused the AAP government of corruption and mismanagement in the liquor policy. The report shed light on how the Group of Ministers (GoM), headed by Sisodia, made changes to expert committee suggestions in favor of private wholesalers and from 2 to 54 retail outlets per bidder. Key financial decisions were also made without Cabinet or LG approval.

CBI Investigation and AAP Leader Arrests

In July 2022, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena proposed a CBI probe in response to the controversial policy’s aftermath. Many AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh, were arrested as a result, and they spent months behind bars.

The BJP has employed the liquor policy scandal as a major issue against AAP, accusing it of financial mismanagement and corruption of public funds. With the CAG report now out in the open, the scandal is likely to heighten political confrontations in Delhi.

Supreme Court Eases Bail Conditions for Manish Sisodia in Delhi Liquor Policy Case

December 11, 2024, 11:44 am

In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Wednesday relaxed the bail conditions for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia, granting his plea to modify the requirement to report to the Investigating Officer twice a week. The court decided to remove the condition that Sisodia report every Monday and Thursday between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., deeming it unnecessary. However, the court directed Sisodia to continue attending trial court proceedings regularly.

This decision follows Sisodia’s request to ease the stringent bail conditions imposed earlier. The Bench, led by Justice B.R. Gavai, ruled that the bail condition of reporting to the Investigating Officer was no longer relevant, as the case involves extensive documentation and numerous witnesses, making a quick trial unlikely.

Sisodia, who had been granted bail in August this year, had challenged his long detention, emphasizing his constitutional right to liberty under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The court had previously expressed concerns about the prolonged incarceration, noting that the trial was unlikely to conclude soon due to the vast amount of evidence involved in the excise policy case.

In addition to the relaxation of bail conditions, Sisodia’s petition against the trial court’s decision to take cognizance of the Enforcement Directorate’s complaint in the liquor policy case is currently pending before the Delhi High Court. Sisodia has argued that the trial court should not have proceeded without obtaining prior sanction for prosecution, as he held a public office at the time of the alleged offence.

The matter will be heard again on December 20, alongside a similar petition by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal seeking a stay on the trial proceedings for lack of sanction.

Delhi Liquor Policy Case: CBI Moves To Arrest Kejriwal As Supreme Court Bail Hearing Looms, AAP Reacts

June 25, 2024, 11:21 pm

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday accused the BJP-led central government of plotting to arrest Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the alleged excise policy scam. This allegation comes just ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on Kejriwal’s bail plea in the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) money laundering case.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh claimed that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) might fabricate a case against the Delhi CM to facilitate his arrest. “Sources have informed me that the Centre is conspiring to register a fake CBI case against Arvind Kejriwal and get him arrested by the CBI,” Singh stated. He added, “The entire nation can see this and is standing in solidarity with Arvind Kejriwal.”

केंद्र की भाजपा सरकार ने सीबीआई के साथ मिलकर रची बड़ी साज़िश! pic.twitter.com/C6OLNLA6bQ

— Sanjay Singh AAP (@SanjayAzadSln) June 25, 2024

Last week, the CBI sought permission to interrogate Kejriwal in Tihar Jail, where he was questioned on Monday. On Tuesday, the CBI applied for production warrants before a special court, which were subsequently issued, requiring Kejriwal to appear in court on Wednesday. The agency claims to have discovered new evidence against him.

In a separate development, the Delhi High Court stayed the trial court’s order that had granted bail to Kejriwal in the money laundering case related to the excise policy scam. The High Court described the trial court’s order as “perverse” and criticized it for not properly considering the material presented by the ED.

The trial court had initially granted bail to Kejriwal on June 20, setting his release on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh. The Delhi excise policy, which was scrapped in 2022 following the lieutenant governor’s directive for a CBI investigation, has been at the center of these allegations. The CBI and ED assert that irregularities were committed during the modification of the policy, with undue favours allegedly extended to license holders.

As the legal battle intensifies, the accusations and counter-accusations are likely to further complicate the political landscape in Delhi.

Arvind Kejriwal Moves SC After Delhi HC Halts Bail In Liquor Policy Case

June 23, 2024, 6:50 pm

Jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday moved the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court stay on his bail order in the liquor policy case. As per Hindustan Times, Kejriwal’s lawyers have appealed for a hearing on Monday. Earlier, Rouse Avenue Court had granted bail to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo but his relief was short-lived as the Delhi HC halted the order pending further hearings.

Delhi HC’s decision came as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) swiftly moved the High Court on 21 June to challenge the lower court’s decision. Kejriwal has been in detention since March 21, when he was arrested for defying ED summons in relation to the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy case.

ED Claims Proof Of ₹100 Crore Bribe Demand By Arvind Kejriwal

June 19, 2024, 6:20 pm

The Enforcement Directorate informed the Rouse Avenue Court that they possessed proof indicating Arvind Kejriwal’s request for Rs 100 crore in kickbacks related to the recently retracted liquor policy case.

The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has prolonged Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s judicial detention until July 3rd. The Chief Minister of Delhi appeared in court via a video conference.

This decision came during the court session for Kejriwal’s plea for regular bail. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju stated that the court had acknowledged the money laundering offense in the case.

He additionally remarked that the court’s refusal to grant bail to co-accused individuals, such as former Delhi minister Manish Sisodia, in the money laundering case indicated the court’s acknowledgment of the money laundering accusation.

ASG Raju, representing the ED, said, “The court’s cognizance of money laundering shows that prima facie the court is convinced that a case of money laundering is made here. The CBI probe revealed that Kejriwal had demanded a bribe of Rs 100 crore. We had collected evidence even before the arrest.”

Vikram Chaudhary, the lawyer representing Kejriwal, contended that the leader of AAP was not mentioned in any chargesheet submitted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). He said, “Even in the FIR lodged by the CBI, Kejriwal has not been named as an accused.”

He added, “Whatever allegations the ED is making, it seems that they are prosecuting me not under the PMLA but in the CBI case.”

Chaudhary also noted that the Supreme Court, in its ruling on May 10, stated that Kejriwal had the option to submit a bail petition in the lower court.

“They were promised pardon… they are not saints. These people were lured. The credibility of these people is also questioned. The whole case started in August 2022 and Kejriwal’s arrest took place in March 2024, just before the elections. There is also malice behind the timing of Kejriwal’s arrest,” he further said.

Kejriwal’s lawyer emphasized that the entire case rested solely on the statements of witnesses who had been previously arrested and were promised bail, highlighting a critical aspect of the defense strategy.

ED Names Delhi CM Kejriwal As Accused In Delhi Liquor Policy Case

May 17, 2024, 5:35 pm

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a new supplementary chargesheet, naming Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for the first time as an accused in the money laundering case associated with the now-defunct Delhi liquor excise policy for 2021-22 on Friday. The central investigative agency also named the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as an accused in the case.

The ED informed the Supreme Court that it found chats between Arvind Kejriwal and hawala operators concerning the alleged proceeds of crime related to the excise policy case.

The agency claims these chats were recovered from the devices of hawala operators after Kejriwal refused to share the password to his devices.

Delhi Excise Case: Arvind Kejriwal’ Judicial Custody Extended till May 20; SC Calls ‘Delay’ In ED Investigation Process

May 7, 2024, 1:26 pm

Delhi court extends judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till May 20. The Supreme Court, while considering Arvind Kejriwal’s petition regarding his arrest in the Delhi liquor policy case, raised questions on Tuesday about the “delay” in the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, the agency opposed the court’s suggestion of potentially granting interim bail to the Delhi chief minister, arguing that it would establish an undesirable precedent.

Delhi Excise Policy case | Delhi court extends judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till May 20.

(file pic) pic.twitter.com/Iux2ABsRfq

— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2024

A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta also requested the agency to present case files both before and after the arrest of former Delhi minister Manish Sisodia, who has been in custody since February 2023.

The Supreme Court pointed out that the Enforcement Directorate took two years to uncover certain aspects. It also questioned why specific pertinent questions were not posed to witnesses and accused individuals in the Delhi liquor policy case.

Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, representing the ED, stated in response that Arvind Kejriwal was not the primary focus of the investigation. However, he noted that Kejriwal’s involvement became more apparent as the investigation progressed.

According to the source, Raju mentioned that during the 2022 Goa Assembly polls, Kejriwal stayed in a seven-star hotel, and part of the bills were purportedly covered by the Delhi government’s general administration department.

The Supreme Court indicated that it would deliberate on arguments regarding granting bail to Kejriwal until the Lok Sabha elections are ongoing, acknowledging the exceptional circumstances. “We can’t overlook that general elections are taking place. It’s an extraordinary situation,” the court remarked.

In response, the agency highlighted that there are approximately 5000 cases involving members of parliament nationwide. “Will all of them be granted bail?” it questioned.

The Enforcement Directorate emphasized that granting interim bail to Kejriwal would establish an undesirable precedent. It underscored that in matters of criminal prosecution, a politician does not possess greater rights than an ordinary citizen.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 and is presently held in judicial custody at Delhi’s Tihar Jail. Kejriwal approached the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court upheld his arrest, citing his failure to cooperate with the ED’s probe.

Delhi Excise Policy Case: Court Rejects To Grant Bail Plea Of BRS Leader K Kavitha

May 6, 2024, 12:24 pm

The Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi dismissed the bail pleas filed by Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha on Monday in relation to cases by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) concerning the Excise policy case.

Special judge Kaveri Baweja issued the order on Monday, stating that both bail pleas, in both the ED and CBI cases, were rejected. A detailed copy of the order is awaited.

Senior Advocates Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Vikram Chaudhari, along with advocates Nitesh Rana, Mohit Rao, and Deepak Nagar, represented K Kavitha in the matter.

In her plea, K Kavitha alleged that the ruling party at the Centre is employing investigative agencies to publicly link her to the Delhi Excise policy, aiming for further coercive actions against her. She argued that the investigating agencies are fully aware that there is no basis to the allegation of her involvement in the supposed scam. The petitioner contends that the intent behind the investigation against her is not to establish her role in the alleged scam, as it is evident that she is not involved.

Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi refuses to grant bail to BRS) leader K Kavitha in connection with ED and CBI cases related to the Delhi Excise Policy case.

(File photo) pic.twitter.com/zDsesF6k1j

— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2024

Kavitha, currently in judicial custody for her alleged involvement in a money laundering case linked to the excise policy scam, was initially arrested by the ED from her residence in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, on March 15. Later, on April 11, she was arrested by the CBI from Tihar jail.

Kavitha’s father and former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao denied all allegations against her in the Delhi excise policy case. He accused the Centre of orchestrating the scam to assert control over the Aam Aadmi Party and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). Rao argued that his daughter is innocent and criticized the prolonged detention of “such prominent leaders.”

Earlier the ED and CBI alleged irregularities in the modification of the excise policy, accusing the “prime suspects” of favoritism towards license holders, fee waivers or reductions, and unauthorized extensions of licenses.

In a related development, the Rouse Avenue Court dismissed the second bail petition of AAP leader Manish Sisodia, implicated in the Delhi excise policy scam, on April 28. Sisodia, in custody since February 26, 2023, sought bail citing trial delays in both CBI and ED cases. This was the second time his bail plea was rejected, following the dismissal of his first plea on March 31, 2023.

Delhi Liquor Policy Case : SC Extends Boinpally’s bail

April 18, 2024, 7:09 pm

The Supreme Court has extended Hyderabad businessman Abhishek Boinpally’s interim bail until May 8 in the Delhi Liquor Policy case. Originally granted on March 28 for five weeks, this extension came about after a mentioning by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal to Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, even though the case was not listed for the day.

Boinpally, a former director of Robin Distilleries LLP and a suspected middleman in the Delhi Liquor Policy case, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in October 2022. However, a month later, he was granted bail. Yet, this reprieve was short-lived as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) successfully obtained custody of Boinpally for five days based on their plea, leading to his continued detention since October 2022.

During the court proceedings, Justice Khanna affirmed that the earlier interim bail granted to Boinpally would remain in effect until the next hearing on May 8. This decision ensures that Boinpally remains out on bail as the legal proceedings continue in the case, where he is among several individuals under investigation.

Arvind Kejriwal begins day in Tihar Jail by sweeping his cell

April 3, 2024, 10:42 am

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has been placed in judicial custody in the liquor policy case, began Wednesday morning by sweeping his prison cell with a broom at Delhi’s Tihar Jail, as per sources. It’s reported that all under-trial prisoners at Tihar Jail are required to clean their cells themselves.

According to sources, Kejriwal is in good health, with no concerns raised by jail doctors. Allegations from Aam Aadmi Party sources suggest that Kejriwal has lost significant weight since his arrest.

Kejriwal has reportedly requested a chair from the jail administration. On April 1, a Delhi court remanded him to 15-day judicial custody in the excise policy case, sending him to Tihar Jail until April 15.

The court has allowed him to have home-cooked meals and carry prescribed medications for his diabetes. Kejriwal, lodged in Jail Number 2 of the high-security Tihar Jail, has been provided with an isolation room, a table, and a chair to keep three books, as per the court’s order.

“Kejriwal slept on his own bed, which was different from the regular one provided by the jail authority. Since the area was small, he could have faced difficulty but didn’t complain about it,” said sources in Tihar Jail.

Officials observed Kejriwal keeping his devices like a sugar sensor and glucometer, isabgol, glucose, and toffees on his table. The court had directed jail authorities to allow him to carry these items for use in case of a sudden dip in his sugar levels.

On Tuesday, Kejriwal woke up early and was served breakfast and tea at 6:40 am. “After an early lunch, he will have to go back to his cell at 12 noon and stay there until 3 pm,” the sources said.

Kejriwal was taken to jail on Monday afternoon after the conclusion of his Directorate of Enforcement custodial remand. The ED labeled him as the “kingpin” in the alleged scam, stating that he had given “evasive replies” and concealed information relevant to the investigation.

In 2014, Kejriwal was also lodged in Tihar Jail after he refused to furnish a bail amount of Rs 10,000 in a defamation case filed against him by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari.

Other AAP leaders currently in Tihar Jail are Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain. Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha, who is also the daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, is also lodged in Tihar Jail.

ED summons AAP’s Goa Chief Amit Palekar in Delhi Liquor Policy case

March 27, 2024, 11:47 pm

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned Amit Palekar, the president of Aam Aadmi Party Goa, along with others, in relation to the Delhi Liquor Policy case on Wednesday.

In addition to the AAP Goa chief, Ramarao Wagh, Datta Prasad Naik, and the president of Bhandari Samaj – Ashok Naik, have also received summons, requiring their presence for investigation tomorrow.

However, sources from AAP have claimed that the ED is spreading lies.

“ED is spreading lies. Dutt Prasad Naik and Ashok Naik are not AAP leaders, but BJP leaders. ED has become a joke today. This is only a political weapon of the BJP,” AAP sources said.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Delhi High Court served a notice to the ED regarding a petition filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal contesting his arrest and challenging the remand granted by the trial court, with no immediate relief granted.

The court, scheduling the matter for April 3, clarified that any release order from custody would essentially constitute granting bail or interim bail to the accused/petitioner, Arvind Kejriwal, as an interim measure. It emphasized that the writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is not typically a direct substitute for seeking bail under Section 439 of the Cr.P.C.

The Delhi High Court is also set to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) on Thursday, seeking the removal of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from his position as chief minister of the government of NCT of Delhi.

The bench comprising Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora is slated to hear the matter on Thursday.

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case, which is linked to a money laundering investigation. He was remanded to the ED till March 28 the following day. The case revolves around purported irregularities and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi excise policy in 2022, which was subsequently annulled.

Delhi liquor policy case: The ED summons 3 associates of AAP leader Sanjay Singh

October 6, 2023, 11:43 am

In connection with the Delhi Excise Policy investigation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned three associates of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and MP Sanjay Singh.
Vivek Tyagi, Sarvesh Mishra, and Kanwarbir Singh have all been summoned by the ED, and Sarvesh Mishra is likely to appear today.
The ED will question all three people in front of Sanjay Singh, who is being held in ED custody until October 10. Singh was arrested on Wednesday after a day of questioning by ED agents at his Delhi home.

According to the investigation agency, Sarvesh, an acquaintance of Sanjay Singh, collected Rs 2 crore on two occasions on Singh’s behalf at the latter’s apartment. Vijay Tyagi, Sanjay Singh’s personal assistant, was promised a stake in accused Amit Arora’s enterprise Aralias Hospitality.
The ED will confront and question them in order to determine the entire mode of operation of the crime and to unearth the entire proceeds of the crime involved.
Several opposition parties have slammed the BJP-led central government following the detention of the AAP MP, accusing it of exploiting agencies such as the CBI and ED against the opposition.

“I will not talk on whether he took Rs 2 crore or not, but on what evidence they have directly put the Rajya Sabha MP to jail. If Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, Sanjay Singh, Sanjay Raut, Anil Deshmukh, and Hemant Soren ask questions to the government, then raids are being conducted by ED, and CBI at their residence,” Shiv Sena’s RAjya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said.
“Where is the proof? The government don’t have any evidence. They are misusing agencies like the CBI and ED against the opposition,” he added.

Manish Sisodia to move SC against Delhi HC’s rejection of bail plea

May 30, 2023, 1:52 pm

Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia will move the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court’s rejection of his bail plea, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader’s legal team announced.

The High Court rejected Sisodia’s bail plea in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case- the investigative agency alleged corruption in the implementation of the previous liquor policy in the national capital. A bench headed by Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma denied bail the former Deputy CM’s bail plea, stating that the AAP leader is a powerful person who might possibly influence any witnesses.

Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on 26 February, 2023 and is presently in Judicial custody. His bail plea was rejected by the trial Court on 31 March.

The trial Court, while dismissing the plea said: “The court is not inclined to release him on bail at this stage of investigation of the case as his release may adversely affect the ongoing investigation and will also seriously hamper the progress.”

Sisodia was arrested in connection with alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

Earlier, the trial court noted that the former Delhi Deputy CM had joined the investigation on two other occasions, but had failed to provide satisfactory answers about any incriminating evidence that surfaced against him during his examination and interrogation.

Excise policy case: ED named Raghav Chadha in supplementary chargesheet

May 2, 2023, 5:40 pm

Raghav Chadha, Rajya Sabha MP of the Aam Aadmi Party, has been named in the Enforcement Directorate’s supplementary chargesheet in the Delhi liquor excise policy case.

However, Chadha stated that he has not been named as an accused or a suspect in any complaint filed by the central agency as he said “I have not been named as an accused or even a suspect in any of the complaints filed by ED.

“There are no allegations whatsoever against me in the said complaints. It appears that in the complaint my name is mentioned as an attendee to some meeting, though the basis of making such an allegation is not clear.”

According to the chargesheet filed by the ED, C Arvind, Manish Sisodia’s then-secretary, stated in his statement that Raghav Chadha was also present in a meeting held at Manish Sisodia’s residence.

The chargesheet reads that “In the meeting held at former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s residence, in which Raghav Chadha, ACS Finance of Punjab Govt, Excise Commissioner, Varun Roojam, FCT and officers from Punjab Excise and Vijay Nair was also present.”

The ED also claimed in its prosecution complaint that Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai, who is currently in judicial custody, made false statements during the investigation in violation of Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

Delhi excise policy scam: ED arrests Hyderabad businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai

March 7, 2023, 1:40 pm

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday has arrested Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai in connection with its ongoing probe in Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 money laundering case, sources revealed.

Arun was arrested late night on Monday following a long-day questioning by the ED officials in the case in Delhi. The agency so far has arrested a total of 11 persons in the case. Pillai’s arrest came in the wake of former deputy leader of Delhi, Sisodia’s arrest by the CBI officials in connection with the case.

Apart from Manish Sisodia and Arun Ramchandra Pillai, the then Excise Commissioner Arva Gopi Krishna, Deputy Commissioner Anand Tiwari and Assistant Commissioner Pankaj Bhatnagar was also arrested among many more by the authorities.

Last week, ED arrested liquor businessman Amandeep Dhall in connection with the Delhi excise policy case and followed by his arrest, Dhall was produced before the Special Court that sent him to a 5-day ED custody. As per several reports, he was a part of the conspiracy to formulate and implement an excise policy that extended favors to liquor manufacturers and distributors.

Security beefed up as CBI gears up to produce Manish Sisodia

March 4, 2023, 12:36 pm

As CBI is all gearing up to produce former AAP leader, Manish Sisodia before a local court at the end of his 5-day remand in the liquor policy case, the Delhi Police, along with Rapid Action Force, and Central Reserve Police Force were deployed outside the headquarters.

Notably, Sisodia was arrested by the CBI officers for alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of Delhi’s new excise policy. Amid the foul play allegations by the Opposition, the policy was withdrawn.

A fresh bail petition was filed on the behalf of Sisodia before a trial court in the national capital states that no fruitful purpose would be served keeping him in custody as all the recoveries in the case have already been made.

The petition further states that the former Delhi Deputy CM was cooperating with the investigation and had appeared whenever he was summoned by the CBI officers. The other accused who was arrested in the case have already been released on a bail, the petition further adds.

In his plea, Sisodia, further states that he had held the important constitutional post of deputy CM and has deep roots in the society. The special Judge Nagpal will hear his plae later on Saturday as the former leader is scheduled to produce before the court at the end of his remand period which is granted on February 27.

Delhi liquor policy case: TRS lawmaker pledges to cooperate with agencies, accuses BJP to defame her

December 1, 2022, 5:38 pm

Kalvakuntla Kavitha, a lawmaker for the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), vowed on Thursday to work with investigation agencies even as she denounced the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government for leaking her name in a court filing regarding the investigation into alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy to the media. According to her, this was done to damage her reputation.

According to statements made by businessman Amit Arora, who was detained this week in connection with the case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) claimed on Wednesday that Kavitha was a key member of the “South Group,” which is accused of paying at least $100 million in kickbacks to members of Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) through another arrested businessman Vijay Nair.

Kavitha, who is Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao or KCR’s daughter, said she was not afraid of being arrested as long as the people of the state are with her. “What can they do? At the most, they will arrest me and send me to jail. But as long as the people are with the TRS, we do not have to worry about such arrests or allegations. The TRS shall continue to work for the people of the state as well as the country and fight against the BJP.”

In response to the TRS administration’s action over the BJP’s alleged attempts to overthrow the Telangana government by poaching the ruling party’s lawmakers, Kavitha said the ED highlighted her name in Arora’s remand report.

“In the last eight years, the Narendra Modi government has toppled democratically-elected governments in as many as nine states by misusing the Central agencies like the CBI [Central Bureau of Investigation], ED, and the Income Tax Department. But their nefarious designs did not work in a politically conscious Telangana. Even a small kid in Telangana is now aware that the BJP tried to destabilise the KCR government.”

As part of his ambitions for national growth ahead of the national elections in 2024, KCR renamed TRS as Bharat Rashtra Samithi in October. Since then, he has been mobilising regional parties against the BJP.

Kavitha said it has become a routine practice for the BJP to target the states where it is not in power by misusing the central agencies and damaging the reputation of its political opponents during the elections. “In any state where elections are scheduled, the ED reaches first before Modi arrives there. As Telangana is about to face elections in December next year, the ED has arrived in Telangana. It is a routine strategy and a cheap political gimmick by the BJP. We do not have to worry about such tactics.”

After turning over the investigation into the liquor policy case to the agency, the ED informed a Delhi court on Wednesday that Kavitha had altered her phone’s International Mobile Equipment Identity six times. It submitted the document while asking for Arora’s judicial remand.

The ED cited a data analysis and stated that it discovered digital evidence had been destroyed in order to impede the investigation. It made reference to its investigation and claimed that Nair accepted payments from the “South Group” on behalf of AAP officials. According to ED, Kavitha was one among those in charge of the group.

According to the ED, significant digital evidence was deleted in order to thwart the inquiry. After the case was turned over to the agency, it added 36 suspects and accused in the case, including Kavitha, and destroyed 176 cell phones and laptops.