PNS|Hyderabad
The Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi extended the custody of Arun Ramachandra Pillai on Monday, an accused in the Delhi liquor scam, for another three days. The court sent Pillai to ED custody till March 16.
The ED had filed a petition in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court to extend Pillai’s custody. During the investigation, the ED made key submissions against Pillai.
In the Delhi liquor case, the ED alleged that Pillai retracted his statement after informing BRS MLC Kavitha. The ED said that CCTV footage on Pillai’s statement is available. The ED made it clear that Pillai was not pressured or threatened in any way during the investigation.
ED officials told the court that Pillai gave a statement on September 18, 2022. The ED said that Pillai confirmed details regarding Kavitha in the second and third statements as well. The ED said that one can understand why Pillai changed his statement now.
It may be recalled that the ED ordered BRS MLC Kavitha, who already facing questioning in the Delhi liquor scam, to appear for questioning again on March 16.
The ED will interrogate Kavitha’s former auditor Gorantla Buchibabu on March 15 in the same case. The ED argued that it intended to interrogate both Pillai and Buchibabu together as bribes had changed hands in the Delhi liquor scam.
