ED opposes bail plea of AAP accused in Delhi excise policy scam case

All five accused are currently in judicial custody. The ED had recently filed its first prosecution complaint (ED’s equivalent to a charge sheet) in the case.

The ED had arrested businessman Sameer Mahendru, Managing Director of Delhi's Jor Bagh-based liquor distributor Indospirit Group, on September 27, while Sarath Reddy, Director, Aurobindo Pharma, and Benoy Babu, General Manager, International Brands, Pernod Ricard, were apprehended on November 10.

On November 14, the ED arrested Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) communications in-charge Vijay Nair and Hyderabad-based businessman Abhishek Boinpally in the case. The agency has also made Sisodia, the then excise commissioner Arva Gopi Krishna, Deputy Commissioner Anand Tiwari and Assistant Commissioner Pankaj Bhatnagar accused in the case.

The ED and the CBI have alleged that irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy, undue favours were extended to licence holders, licence fee was waived or reduced and L-1 licence was extended without the competent authority’s approval. The beneficiaries diverted "illegal" gains to the accused officials and made false entries in their books of account to evade detection.