Delhi excise policy case: ED attaches assets worth over Rs 52 crore of Manish Sisodia, other accused

The excise policy which brought in big discounts for consumers was scrapped on July 31 last year amid allegations of corruption and irregularities in its drafting and implementation.

“It is the second provisional attachment order issued in this case. The first provisional attachment order issued was for attachment of immovable/movable properties worth Rs 76.54 crore of (AAP communications in-charge) Vijay Nair, (Indospirit MD) Sameer Mahendru; businessman Amit Arora; businessman Arun Pillai and others. Total attachment in the case is now Rs 128.78 crore and the proceeds of crime involved in this case is at least Rs 1,934 crore. In this case, ED had arrested 12 persons so far and has filed five prosecution complaints. Further investigation is in process,” the spokesperson said.

On Thursday, the ED had arrested businessman Dinesh Arora, who had turned approver in the CBI’s excise case.

In one of its chargesheets, the ED has alleged that Dinesh Arora acted as a “conduit for kickbacks” between the ‘South group’ and the Aam Aadmi Party. The ED chargesheet relies on statements made by Dinesh Arora, Mahendru and Pillai to allege that Arora took over from Nair when the latter was busy with the Goa and Punjab Assembly elections.

According to the chargesheet, on one occasion, Sisodia allegedly held a meeting of retailers, and when Dinesh Arora arrived late, Sisodia asked him to sit next to him. This is based on Mahendru’s statement, recorded by the ED on September 10, 2022.

According to the statement, Sisodia “gesturing” to Dinesh Arora “to come and sit next to him” was a “message which was received by the market that he was close to AAP and specifically Dy CM”, the chargesheet alleges.