Page 2 - Liquor Law

Delhi liquor case: ED, CBI responses sought on Sisodia's interim bail pleas

The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses of the CBI and the ED by July 28 on interim bail pleas of AAP leader Manish Sisodia in the Delhi excise policy case. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Bela M Trivedi and Ujjal Bhuyan took into consideration the submission of senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Sisodia, that his wife is suffering from an extreme medical condition and is hospitalised. The bench said it will consider the interim bail application and for that it is seeking response of the CBI and the ED. At the outset, the bench said that normally the court does not interfere with policy decisions but here is a case of making of policy for extraneous reasons. Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the CBI and the ED, said interim bail application was also rejected by the trial court. The bench, however, asked Raju to file response on behalf of investigating agencies. On July 10, a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud had agreed to hear t

Excise policy: Delhi HC denies bail to Vijay Nair in money laundering case

The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to grant bail to Aam Aadmi Party's communication in-charge Vijay Nair in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, noting that the statements of witnesses showed kickbacks claimed to have been paid by the potential beneficiaries were used in the Goa assembly elections. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, by separate orders, also dismissed the bail applications of former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, businessman Abhishek Boinpally and liquor giant Pernod Ricard's executive Benoy Babu in the case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The court said while personal liberty is a "sacrosanct right and pre-trial detention cannot be taken as a punitive measure", such right has to be balanced with the right of the society at large. The judge, in his 45-page order passed on the bail plea by Nair, observed that the allegations are "extremely serious in nature" and the alleged conspiracy in the present case was .

Delhi excise policy scam: Manish Sisodia's interim bail plea refused

The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to grant interim bail to AAP leader Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case arising from the alleged excise policy scam. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, however, allowed him to meet his ailing wife in custody for one day as per her convenience between 10 am and 5 pm. The former Delhi deputy chief minister had sought release on a temporary basis for six weeks on grounds that he was the sole caretaker of his ailing wife. His plea for regular bail in the matter is pending before the high court. Sisodia, who was arrested on March 9, is currently in judicial custody in the case lodged by the ED. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had opposed the plea for interim bail on grounds of possibility of evidence tampering. The ED lawyer has also claimed that Sisodia's wife has been suffering from such a medical condition for the last 20 years. The Delhi government implemented the policy on November 17, 2021 but scrapped it at the end of September 2022 amid

Delhi Excise Policy scam: Manish Sisodia used 43 SIM cards, says ED

The ED sources said that Sisodia had been using an iPhone 13 Max Pro for 11 months, but destroyed it soon after the L-G's order

Delhi excise policy scam: Sisodia confesses to destroying two mobile phones

The source stated that a Section 91 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.PC) notice was also served to Sisodia regarding the two mobile phones, and in response, he admitted to the same fact

Delhi excise scam: CBI gives clean chit to former-excise commissioner

"Arva Gopi Krishan did not play any role in the incorporation of favourable provisions in the excise policy. He only followed the directions of GoM and Sisodia," CBI said

Delhi excise policy scam: CBI alleges irregularities in GoM meetings

'When Arava Gopi Krishna became the Excise Commissioner on March 5, 2021, he was never invited to any GoM meetings that took place after his appointment'

Chhattisgarh liquor scam case: ED should arrest CM Baghel, says AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party has demanded that the Enforcement Directorate arrest Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and probe his role in the alleged liquor scam in the state. The federal agency on Saturday arrested liquor businessman Anwar Dhebar, the brother of Congress leader and Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar, in connection with the alleged scam. In its remand application filed in a special court, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had claimed that there was a "massive scam" in the liquor trade in Chhattisgarh by a syndicate, comprising high-level state government officials, private persons and political executives. It also claimed that the scam generated corruption money of more than Rs 2,000 crore between 2019-22. "Such a massive scam is not possible without a nexus from bottom to top. To run such a syndicate, the blessings of a big political leader are required. The pattern of the scam directly points fingers at the chief minister of the state," Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Del

Excise policy case desperate attempt by BJP to malign AAP: Kejriwal

The excise policy case is a desperate attempt by the BJP to "malign an honest party like the AAP", Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday. His remarks came after a Delhi court on Saturday granted bail to two accused in a money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in relation to alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. The court said the evidence against the accused, Rajesh Joshi and Gautam Malhotra, was not sufficient for the case against them to be considered prima facie "genuine". In a tweet, Kejriwal said, "The whole liquor scam is false. We were saying it from beginning. Now even courts have started saying it. It's a desperate measure by BJP to malign an honest party like AAP." Reacting to the court order, the AAP had said on Saturday that it showed that the entire case is "bogus", and asked the BJP to tender an apology for levelling false allegations. The BJP, however,

After 8 months of old excise policy, over 168,000L of illicit IMFL seized

In the first 8 months of implementation of old excise policy in Delhi since September 2022, more than 1.68 lakh litres of illicit Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) and over 3,800 litres of foreign liquor was seized by the Excise department of Delhi government. In the same period, 57,333 litres of country liquor was also seized by the enforcement teams of the Excise department, said a senior officer of the department. Total 282 excise cases were registered and 280 people were arrested in various offences. More than 100 vehicles, mostly used in inter-state smuggling, were also impounded, he said. The Delhi government last year withdrew its new excise policy 2021-22, after a CBI probe was recommended by Lt Governor VK Saxena into alleged violation of rules and procedural lapses in its implementation. The policy implemented on November 17, 2021 was wrapped up on August 30, 2022. The government went back to old excise policy that was in operation prior to November 17, 2021. The enforc

Delhi excise case: Raghav Chadha, Sanjay Singh named in ED charge sheet

According to the charge sheet, Chadha was part of a meeting which was held at Manish Sisodia's residence in connection with the liquor policy case

Over Rs 192 cr crime proceeds generated in Delhi excise policy 'scam': ED

Referring to accused Arun Pillai, the ED alleged that he actively participated in the generation of the PoC

Chivas-maker Pernod challenges New Delhi licence rejection in court

"Merely because there may be certain allegations ... cannot be equated with a criminal or be considered as having a criminal background," Pernod Ricard's April 23 filing stated

AAP 'ray of hope' for people, efforts being made to trample it: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the AAP has emerged as a ray of hope for the country and that is the reason why efforts are being made to trample it. In his first reaction after being served a notice by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to appear before it in connection with the excise policy case, Kejriwal said he will appear before the agency on Sunday. Addressing a press conference here, he said no other party has been targeted in the last 75 years as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). "... That is because the AAP has given hope to people that it would eradicate poverty and make them educated. They want to trample this hope by targeting us," he said. The AAP supremo underlined that the excise policy, which is the centre of attention, is an excellent policy and is doing well in Punjab where the party is in power. Accusing the CBI and the ED of filing false affidavits, he said they are alleging that his former deputy Manish Sisodia destroyed 14 phones, but t

Delhi excise policy scam: Pvt company helped transfer Rs 31 cr, claims ED

The firm was engaged by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for advertisements and promotion of its election strategy during the Goa election

Amid rising temperatures, Delhites struggle to find favourite beer brands

Liquor shops in Delhi have limited stocking space, and a low number of shops in the city naturally means a low total stock holding

More hiccups: No Dutch courage in Delhi govt's new excise policy

The new liquor policy promised several changes to the way alcoholic drinks are sold in Delhi

CBI arrests Manish Sisodia; CM Arvind Kejriwal terms it 'dirty politics'

The CBI on Sunday evening arrested Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped liquor policy for 2021-22 after nearly eight hours of questioning during which his answers were not found satisfactory, officials said. Sisodia arrived at the CBI headquarters around 11.12 am for the second round of questioning, they said. The officials of the Anti-Corruption Branch of the CBI grilled the minister on various aspects of the Excise policy, his alleged link with Dinesh Arora and other accused in the FIR, and details of message exchanges from multiple phones among others, they said. The CBI investigators were not satisfied with the responses provided by Sisodia and alleged that he was not cooperating in the investigation and avoiding clarifications on crucial points sought by them resulting in his arrest, they said. Before leaving for the CBI office, Sisodia had expressed apprehension that he may b

Kavitha hits out at BJP, Congress amid backlash in Delhi excise scam

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's daughter K Kavitha, who the ED mentioned in the Delhi Excise Policy charge sheet accusing her of holding 65 per cent stake in a liquor company, hit out at the BJP on Wednesday saying "truth with prevail".Kalvakuntla Kavitha tweeted, "Rajagopal Anna.. Don't rush!! Even if my name is mentioned 28 times or 28000 times a lie is not true. #TruthWillPrevail."https://twitter.com/RaoKavitha/status/1605430251789565952?s=20 & t=kr_y5xo5fmGhOTsvz5GdtgThis came after BJP leader Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy tweeted tagging a news article with the caption, "Liquor Queen's name was mentioned 28 times in chargesheet."In another, reacting to Congress' Manickam Tagore's tweet, she wrote, "The accusations against me are completely bogus and false. Only time will prove my sincerity. It's a political vendetta of BJP, as they fear BRS Party Chief CM KCR's exposing their anti-farmer and pro-capitalist policies."The ...

Excise scam: Prominent people from south gave Rs 100 cr to AAP, says ED

Several prominent people from south-India had given kickbacks of around Rs 100 Cr to AAP government here in exchange of favours and undue benefits to them in the liquor business, the ED has alleged in its charge sheet filed before a city court in Delhi excise scam. The ED alleged in its charge sheet filed against businessman Sameer Mahendru and AAP's communication in-charge Vijay Nair had hatched a conspiracy with K Kavitha, MLC of Telangana, Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy (MSR), MP of Ongole (Andhra), his son Raghav Magunta, and Sarath Reddy, who are collectively called as South Group. Mahendru, in collusion with others, formed a cartel of retailer-wholesaler-manufacturer with Pernod Ricard, Benoy Babu, Vijay Nair, representative of AAP, Arun Pillai, K Kavitha, Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy (MSR), his son Raghav, Sarath Reddy, Abhishek Boinpally and Buchi Babu, it alleged, adding that the 'south group' was represented by Arun Pillai, Abhishek Boinpally and Buchi Babu. It added that Mahendru