It is alleged that Arora routed the kickback to AAP leaders through hawala channels. He has turned approver in the case.
Enforcement Directorate.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has reportedly found links between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh — now under arrest — and businessman Dinesh Arora, who has turned approver in the Delhi excise scam.
Arora, said to be a key person in the case, reportedly maintained links with the so-called South Group that allegedly paid a kickback of ₹100 crore to the AAP. He also allegedly coordinated the transfer of money through hawala channels.
Arora is also said to be the link to Singh’s arrest. He reportedly claimed that Singh had introduced him to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who is now jailed in the same case.
Interestingly, the central agency expedited the probe after YSRCP MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy and his son Magunta Raghava Reddy turned approvers a few weeks ago.
Srinivasulu Reddy was the fourth person from the south to turn approver after his son, industrialist P Sharat Chandra Reddy, and Butchibabu Gorantla, the chartered accountant of BRS MLC K Kavitha.
It is learnt that Srinivasulu Reddy disclosed crucial information to ED officials, who have been primarily focusing on the money transferred through hawala channels to strike a deal in the liquor business. This apparently helped the ED arrest Singh.
The probe agency had questioned Kavitha and others several times at its office in New Delhi. She then handed over her mobile phones to the ED for examination.
In its first prosecution complaint filed in the court, the ED said Vijay Nair, on behalf of AAP leaders, received kickbacks to the tune of ₹100 crore from the South Group. This was revealed by persons who were questioned as part of the investigation.
Nair, arraigned as accused number five in the FIR issued by the CBI in the case, was the communication and media in-charge of the AAP.
Prominent persons in the South Group are Srinuvasula Reddy, Raghava Reddy, and Kavitha. The Group reportedly paid the kickbacks to AAP leaders in advance as part of an agreement between them.
In return for the kickbacks, the South Group reportedly got uninhibited access, undue favours, and stakes in established wholesale businesses, and multiple retail zones over and above the permissible limit.
To recover the kickbacks paid, the partners of the South Group were given 65 percent stakes in Indo-Spirits. This partnership was formed based on Nair’s directive. He reportedly assured Sameer Mahandru of Indo-Spirits that he would get the wholesale business of Pernod Ricard.
The South Group controlled the stakes in Indo-Spirits through false representation, concealment, and proxies, it is alleged.
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