Delhi excise policy case: High Court seeks ED’s stand in bail plea of AAP’s Vijay Nair

Appearing for ED, advocate Zoheb Hossain said, “He is one of the key conspirators”.

The High Court issued notice to ED asking the agency to file its status report and listed the matter for hearing on May 19.

Special Judge M K Nagpal had on February 16 passed an order denying bail to Nair and other accused persons. Observing the allegations against Nair, the special court observed, “He (Nair) had in fact emerged as the sutradhar (string holder) of the entire criminal conspiracy that came into existence between various accused persons, some of whom are even yet to be identified, in connection with formulation and implementation of the above excise policy”.

The special court had also dismissed the bail petitions of Indospirit owner Sameer Mahendru, Aurobindo Pharma Director Sarath Reddy, Pernod Ricard General Manager Benoy Babu, and businessman Abhishek Boinpally.

On Nair, the special court further noted, “Though he was only the Media and Communication In-charge of the AAP, it has been revealed during the investigation of this case that he was actually representing the AAP and GNCTD in different meetings that took place with the stakeholders in liquor business… His participation in the meetings in this capacity is to be viewed in light of the facts that he was residing in the official accommodation allotted to a senior minister of the AAP and once he is even alleged to have represented himself as an OSD in the Excise Department of GNCTD and further that none from the Government or AAP officially participated in these meetings”.

The court also noted that “some evidence is also alleged to have been collected to show that certain amounts, though meagre, out of the above kickbacks were spent by him (Nair) towards election expenses in Goa”.