Two persons likely to be called for questioning for by ED in accusations of corruption in Excise Policy of Delhi

Close on heels of complaint of Delhi BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Department (ED), making serious allegations regarding favouring two liquor honchos – M/s Indo-Spirits and M/s Brendco Spirits, the Enforcement Department is likely to summon two accused persons for questioning, sources said.

The leader has named Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi and Kailash Gehlot, Transport Minister of Delhi in a complaint which says that the New Excise Policy was drafted for “extending wrongful gains and favours to liquor wholesalers in Delhi i.e. Indospirit Distribution Limited (Indo-Spirit) and Brindco Sales Private Limited (Brindco Spirits) by structuring and laying a mechanism through the Delhi Excise Policy”.

The complaint also names Mr. Vijay Nair, former CEO of a event management company from Mumbai; Mr. Manoj Rai, the sales head of French alcobev major Pernod Ricard India, Mr. Satyendra Jain, Health Minister of Delhi; Mr. Arava Gopal Krishna, Commissioner Excise, Delhi; Mr. Raghav Chaddha, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (AAP); Mr. Harpal Cheema, Excise Minister of Punjab; Mr. Dinesh Arora; Mr. Amandeep Singh Dhal, owner of Brindco Spirits; Mr. Sameer Mahendru, owner of Indospirit; Indospirit Distribution Limited, through its Directors and Brindco Sales Private Limited, through its Directors.

The complaint says that “the policy is the brainchild of Manoj Rai, AVP Sales, Pernod Ricard India, who had drafted this policy and he is an employee of Pernod Ricard. He is the one who successfully launched and implemented the said policy in Delhi and now in conspiracy with other accused persons in replicating the same in Punjab at the cost of livelihood of several individuals.

The complaint further says that “Mr.Manoj Rai being well versed with the liquor business was the one who had advised the other accused of the entire scheme of how the liquor business can be used to generate illegitimate and illegal monies from wholesalers for AAP Party and on the said basis all the accused have conspired to give effect to the said offence in Delhi and also in Punjab.

Sirsa alleges that undue favours to the tune of Rs. 30 crores per month were being made to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) by Indospirit Distribution Limited (Indo-Spirit) and Brindco Sales Private Limited (Brindco Spirits), thereby indulging in criminal activities and causing loss to exchequer thereby committing offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2022.

There are serious allegations that “a further conspiracy is being hatched in order to implement similar policy in the State of Punjab with sole motive to reap unjust and wrongful monetary gains, for which a meeting was held on 30.05.2022 at the residence of Mr. Manish Sisodia, which was attended by Mr. Manish Sisodia, Mr. Varun Runjan (Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Punjab), Mr. Kap Sinha (Financial Commissioner Taxation. Punjab). Mr. Naresh Dubey, Mr. Vijay Nair, Mr. Raghav Chadha, Mr. Harpal Cheema (Excise Minister, Punjab) and certain other officials. During the meeting reluctance was shown certain excise officials Punjab to impose a new policy considering the residents at Punjab would not accept the proposed model as It would affect livelihood of many”.

The complaint says that an immediate enquiry/investigation is warranted to ascertain the quid pro quo and kickbacks offered to the concerned government officials who have customised and enacted the policy to reap wrongful gains and a further strict action is warranted in light of the above to trace the kickbacks and the money generated out of the mentioned offence. It the abovenamed companies and personnel are not abstained immediately, their malafide intent, immense loss to their counterparts and cause huge loss to the exchequer as well.

To be continued……