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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleged in its First Information Report (FIR) that close associates of Delhi Deputy Chief minister Manish Sisodia were actively involved in “managing and diverting the undue pecuniary advantage” collected from liquor licensees to accused public servants.
The FIR, a copy of which is in possession of The New Indian, also alleged that Sameer Mahendru, Managing Director of Indospirits, transferred an amount of ₹1 crore to the account of Radha Industries, which is managed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader’s close associate Dinesh Arora.
The CBI has named Sisodia as accused number one in the case, along with Deputy Chief minister’s close aide Vijay Nair, former CEO of Mumbai-based entertainment and event management company Only Much Louder, besides 13 private people across Lucknow, Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai and Karnataka, which includes liquor firm Brindco and Indospirit.
The CBI has named three public servants, including Arva Gopi Krishna, the then Excise Commissioner and IAS officer, Anand Tiwari, the then Deputy Excise Commissioner, Pankaj Bhatnagar, Assistant Commissioner (Excise).
Apart from Mahendru and Nair, the CBI has also named Manoj Rai, ex-employee of Lucknow-based Pernod Ricard; Amandeep Dhal, Director of Delhi-based Brindco Sales Pvt. Ltd.; Amit Arora, Director of Buddy Retail Private Limited; Dinesh Arora, Delhi-based Mahadev Liquors; Sunny Marwah, authorised signatory of Mahadev Liquors; Arun Ramchandra Pillai of Karnataka’s Bangalore and Arjun Pandey of Gurgaon. The CBI also named other unnamed public servants and private persons in the FIR.
The CBI registered a case on August 17 and earlier in the day carried out searches at 21 locations, including the premises of Sisodia, Gopi Krishna and others spanning seven states.
The CBI FIR is based on the complaint received from Lt Governor of Delhi VK Saxena, alleging irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of GNCTD of Delhi for the year 2021-22.
In the FIR, it has been alleged that Sisodia, Krishna, Tiwari and Bhatnagar were instrumental in recommending and taking decisions pertaining to excise policy for the year 2021-22 without the approval of competent authority with an intention to extend undue favours to the licensee post tender.
The CBI FIR further states that reliable sources have revealed that Nair, Rai, Dhal and Mahendru are actively involved in irregularities in the framing and implementing of the excise policy of GNCTD of Delhi for the year 2021-22.
The FIR further read: “Source further revealed that some of the L-1 licence holders are issuing credit notes to retail vendors with an ab-intio intention to divert the funds as an undue pecuniary advantage to public servants. In furtherance of this, they are showing false entries in their books of accounts to keep their records straight.”
“Source further revealed that Amit Arora, Dinesh Arora, Pandey are close associates of Sisodia and are actively involved in managing and diverting the undue pecuniary advantage collected from liquor licensees to accused public servants,” it alleged.
“Source further revealed that Mahendru, MD of Indospirits, has transferred an amount of one crore to Radha Industries’ account no 10220210****47 with UCO Bank, Rajendra Place, New Delhi,” it said.
The CBI FIR said that Pillai used to collect undue pecuniary advantage from Mahendru, MD of Indospirits, for onward transmission to the accused public servant through Nair. “A person named Arjun Pandey has once collected a huge cash amount of about ₹2-4 crore from Mahendru on behalf of Nair,” it said.
The CBI also alleged that Mahadev Liquors, a proprietorship firm, was granted an L-1 License. Marwah is the authorised signatory of the firm. Marwah is also a director of companies and firms being managed by the family of the late Ponty Chadha, who was involved in the business of liquor.
“Marwah is in close contact with accused public servants and has been regularly giving undue pecuniary advantage to them,” it alleged.
The CBI FIR comes days after LG VK Saxena recommended a CBI probe alleging irregularities in the new excise policy 2021-22. Subsequently, Saxena also ordered a vigilance inquiry into the matter and ordered the suspension of 11 officers, including the then Excise commissioner Krishna and Deputy Commissioner Tiwari. The order was initiated on August 6, 2022.
