Excise policy case: Who are the accused that remain behind bars?

Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister

As per the agencies, Kejriwal allegedly received “bribe money” from the ‘South Group’ (business persons from South India) in exchange for granting favours to them when the now-scrapped excise policy was being drafted.

The CBI also alleged he ensured that Rs 90 lakh from “bribe money” would be given to each of the 40 AAP candidates during the 2022 Goa Assembly polls.

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21. On June 26, he was formally arrested by the CBI. He was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court in the ED’s money laundering case on July 12 but remains in judicial custody in the CBI’s corruption case.

His bail plea, along with a plea challenging his arrest by the CBI, will be heard in the SC on September 5.

Vinod Chauhan, alleged hawala operator

Chauhan was allegedly involved in the transfer of Rs 25.5 crore to fund the AAP’s 2022 Goa Assembly poll campaign, as per the ED.

The agency also alleged that Rs 1.06 crore was seized from his house. Chauhan was unable to disclose the source of the amount, the ED had said.

Arrested by the ED, he has been in custody since May. Currently, his bail plea is being heard in Rouse Avenue Court.

Amandeep Dhall, director of Brindco Sales Pvt Ltd

As per the CBI, Dhall, a businessman, allegedly conspired with co-accused Vijay Nair and played an instrumental role in facilitating and arranging meetings with members of the ‘South Group’, and was involved in the recoupment of bribes/kickbacks by issuing additional credit notes.

In June 2024, the Delhi High Court denied him bail, stating that documents indicated he played a “key role” in formulating and manipulating the excise policy to secure undue financial benefits.

He was arrested by the CBI on April 18, 2023. He has been in custody for around 18 months.

Arun Ramachandra Pillai, Hyderabad-based businessman

Pillai was allegedly part of the ‘South Group’ that sent ‘kickbacks’ worth Rs 100 crore to AAP leaders. As per the ED, Pillai had 32.5% shares in Indospirit, a liquor manufacturing group.

As per the ED, out of the Rs 68 crore profit that Indospirit allegedly earned through cartelisation, Rs 29 crore was transferred to Pillai’s accounts.

He was arrested by the ED on March 6, 2023.

The Delhi High Court in June this year denied interim bail (moved on medical grounds) to Pillai, after noting that his medical reports did not indicate he was “suffering from any life-threatening ailment”.

Sameer Mahendru, managing director of M/s Indospirit Group

As per the ED, Mahendru allegedly had a 35% partnership stake in Indospirit LLP, which got a wholesale L1 licence. He also obtained two retail zone licences under the name of Khao Gali restaurants which are under the name of his father-in-law “but (he) used to take all financial decisions in Khao Gali” and was the beneficial owner of the company, it is alleged.

Mahendru was arrested by the ED in September 2022. He was granted interim bail for 43 days in January this year by Special Judge M K Nagpal of Rouse Avenue Court.

His bail plea is pending in the Delhi High Court.