The Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted bail to Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. "Bail granted," said Justice Neena Bansal Krishna while allowing the relief. The development comes hours after another accused - AAP leader Durgesh Pathak - was granted bail by a Delhi court in a corruption case related to the alleged excise scam.
No relief to Delhi CM Kejriwal
Meanwhile, Special Judge Kaveri Baweja extended the judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till September 25 in the case.
What are the allegations against Pillai?
Pillai was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the matter on March 6. The ED has claimed that Pillai was a close associate of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha, an accused in the case, and represented the "South Group" at meetings with other accused when the excise policy was being formulated and implemented.
The "South Group" is allegedly a cartel of liquor businessmen and politicians who were claimed to have paid Rs 100 crore in kickbacks to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi for favours.
The Supreme Court granted bail to Kavitha in the excise policy cases on August 27.
Senior advocate Mohit Mathur and advocate Nitesh Rana appeared in the high court for Pillai. The court recently granted bail to liquor businessman Sameer Mahendru and AAP volunteer Chanpreet Singh Rayat in the matter.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and several others are accused in the excise policy cases.
The Delhi government had implemented the excise policy on November 17, 2021, but scrapped it at the end of September 2022 amid allegations of corruption.
