Delhi court hears bail plea of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia Enforcement Directorate The (ED) mentioned a few names to establish links between the Arvind Kejriwal-led government and Kavitha, daughter of Telangana Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Rao, in the liquor policy scam.
The ED told the court that Sisodia’s aide Vijay Nair “coordinated the entire conspiracy”, while Dinesh Arora was coordinating the brokerage. The ED said Arora received a call from AAP leader Sanjay Singh asking for money from various restaurants as elections were approaching.
The agency also read a statement by former auditor of BRS MLC Kavitha Gorantla Buchibabu. He has revealed that there was a political understanding between Sisodia and KCR’s daughter. He also met Vijay Nair,” read the statement.
Earlier on Friday, Kavitha’s close aide Arun Pillai filed an application before Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court seeking retraction of his statements given to the Enforcement Directorate.
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The court has issued notice to the ED on a plea filed by Pillai alleging that the statements were recorded under coercion. The matter is listed for hearing on Monday, March 13.
Here’s all about the top names in the Delhi liquor policy scam
Vijay Nair: He is the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mumbai-based Only Much Louder (OML), an entertainment and event management company.
Nair, who started Only Much Louder as a management company for indie bands, later focused on the comedy industry and live music festivals. according to a report in the quintOML was popular for its NH7 weekender concerts, which have become synonymous with indie music in India.
The company also promoted comedy collectives like East India Comedy and All India Bakchod, reports The Quint.
Nair is also associated with companies like Babblefish and Motherswear. according to a report in Economic TimesIn 2014, Nair was at the helm of a business estimated to be worth $10 million.
Dinesh Arora: He is a well known name in the food industry in Delhi. Arora has been associated with the industry since 2009. According to reports, he opened his first cafe in Delhi’s Hauz Khas area in 2009. His Instagram profile states that he is also the Managing Director of Chica Delhi, Unplugged Courtyard and La Roca Aerocity.
According to the CBI, Dinesh Arora is the director of Radha Industries. Apart from this, Arora is also a committee member of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI).
In July 2018, Arora also started Eastman Color Restaurants Private Limited Company. According to the NRAI website, Dinesh Arora currently has restaurants in all major markets of Delhi. An accused in the Delhi Liquor Policy case, he turned approver last year.
Gorantla Buchibabu: He is a Hyderabad-based chartered accountant who is part of the ‘South Group’, which includes YSRCP Ongole MP Magunta Srinivasu Reddy (MSR), his son Magunta Raghava Reddy and BRS MLC Kavitha.
The group was represented by Buchibabu along with Hyderabad-based businessman Abhishek Boinapalli and P Sarath Chandra Reddy, director of the leading pharma company.
“Businessman Sameer Mahendru in collusion with others formed a cartel of retailer-wholesaler-manufacturer, including Pernod Ricard, Binoy Babu, AAP representative Vijay Nair, Arun Pillai, K Kavitha, Maguntha Srinivasu Reddy (MSR), his sons Raghav, Sarath Reddy, Abhishek Boinapalli and Buchi Babu,” the ED alleged, adding that the ‘South group’ was represented by Arun Pillai, Abhishek Boinapalli and Buchibabu.
Arun Pillai: He is also part of the ‘South Group’ which allegedly sent ‘kickbacks’ of Rs 100 crore to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders. According to the ED, Pillai is the frontman of Indospirits, a southern liquor maker. He was given 32.5% of the company.
According to the ED, out of the Rs 68 crore profit Indospirits allegedly earned through cartelisation, Rs 29 crore was transferred to Pillai’s accounts. The ED, during investigation, found that Pillai paid Rs 4.75 crore to a TV channel owner and Rs 3.85 crore to Abhishek Boinapalli, one of the other accused arrested in the case.
Robin Distilleries Pvt. Ltd and Robin Distribution LLP’s address were allegedly linked to a beauty parlor owned by relatives of TRS MLC Kavitha Kalavakuntla.
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