Excise policy case: Delhi court sends Arun Pillai to judicial custody
New Delhi, (IANS) | A Delhi court on Monday sent Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Ramachandra Pillai to judicial custody in connection with the 2021-22 Delhi Excise Policy case, which is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Last week, Special Judge M.K. Nagpal of the Rouse Avenue Court had extended Pillai’s ED remand till Monday, noting that the probe agency has gathered some new details after Pillai was confronted with Hyderabad-based chartered accountant Buchi Babu Gorantla on March 15.
The ED had earlier informed the court that Pillai was to be confronted with Maguntha Reddy, who is also an accused.
On March 16, Pillai’s lawyer Manu Sharma opposed the agency’s request for longer remand. He had argued that such confrontation between the accused is a never-ending process.
The ED had arrested Pillai on March 6 after questioning him for hours in the case.
His arrest is the 11th arrest by the ED in this case.
The probe agency has alleged that Pillai was involved in forming a cartel of manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers that controlled over 30 per cent of the liquor business in the national capital.
The ED named the cartel ‘South Group’, in which BRS leader K. Kavitha, Aurobindo Pharma promoter Sarath Reddy, YSRCP MP from Ongole Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, his son Raghava Maguntra and others.
The agency claimed that the South Group was represented by Pillai, Abhishek Boinapalli and Babu.
The ED said Pillai is a partner in Indo Spirits with 32.5 per cent stake and represented the interests of Kavitha.
Chief Minister of Telangana K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s daughter Kavita also reached the ED headquarters here on Monday for the second round of questioning in the case.
Earlier on Monday, the court had extended the judicial custody of AAP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia till April 3 in the same case, which is also being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
–IANS
