Talks held in city hotel, says ED remand report
K Venkateshwarlu
Hyderabad
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) stated in its remand report that the Delhi liquor scam was Hyderabad-centric. The ED remand report made it clear that discussions on the Delhi liquor scam took place at the Hyderabad ITC Kohinoor Hotel in June 2021.
The ED mentioned in its report that South Group members summoned Dinesh Arora to Hyderabad and held discussions with him at the ITC Kohinoor Hotel.All these facts came out in Manish Sisodia’s remand report after the ED investigated him on Friday. After the ITC Kohinoor Hotel discussion, Vijay Nair directed Dinesh Arora to get money from Hyderabad and coordinated with Rajesh Joshi and Sudhir.
In its 58-page report, the ED said that auditor Gorantla Buchibabu accepted in his statement that BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha has a political understanding with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
The agreement between Kavitha and AAP was that Kavitha has to provide funds for AAP if changes are made in the liquor policy in favour of Kavitha, the ED mentioned in its report. The ED also mentioned in its report that Sisodia accepted that he personally monitored Indo Spirit files.
The ED mentioned in Sisodia’s remand report that Vijay Nair, Arjun Pande, Abhishek Boinpally, auditor Gorantla Buchibabu and South Group members were present during the discussions held at the ITC Kohinoor Hotel in Hyderabad.
The ED made it clear that the South Group gave a bribe of Rs 100 crore to the AAP in the Delhi Liquor scam which was planned from Hyderabad.Arun Pillai represented Kavitha and the South Group has a 65 per cent share in the Indo Spirit group, the ED report said. The ED mentioned in its report that Kavitha is a partner in the South Group.
The ED submitted its report to the Rouse Avenue Special Court on Friday. The ED also mentioned in its report that YSRCP MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy’s son Magunta Raghava Reddy, Vijay Nair, Buchibabu and Kavitha were in the South Group Syndicate.
The ED revealed after the questioning of Sisodia it was found that the deal had been finalised in such a manner that six per cent of the benefits which come through the liquor policy would go to the South Group and the AAP.
The ED produced Manish Sisodia at the Rouse Avenue Court on Friday seeking 10 days’ custody arguing that there is a need to question him further as he had played a key role in the liquor scam.Lawyers Dayan Krishnan and Siddharth Agarwal argued on behalf of Manish Sisodia. Joheb Hossain argued on behalf of the ED. Arguing on behalf of the ED, Hossain said that Vijay Nair, Sisodia, Kavitha and others were behind the liquor policy conspiracy.
The South Group had 30 per cent of the liquor business in Delhi after paying a bribe of Rs 100 crore to AAP leaders. The ED said that Vijay Nair represented Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia.
Kavitha handed over the GoM report on policy rules to auditor Buchibabu two days before giving it to Delhi Ministers. The ED said that Sisodia played a key role in getting the L-1 license for the Indo Spirit Company.
The Delhi government followed this policy as part of a conspiracy to give permission to some private companies to do wholesale business.
The ED questioned how Cabinet decisions came out and alleged that the government sent the liquor policy to some private individuals. The ED said that Vijay Nair played the role of a coordinator between government employees, middlemen and political leaders and other departments.
The ED also mentioned AAP MP Sanjay Singh in its report saying that Sanjay Singh made a phone call to Dinesh Arora and enquired about the party fund issue.
The ED said that Sisodia destroyed 14 phones and data from only two phones could be recovered. Sisodia used phones which were not in his name.
The ED also revealed that it decoded the WhatsApp chat of Kavitha. They used a special code for this chat meaning V for Vijay Nair and Madam for Kavitha and Sami for Sameer.
‘V-Need Money’ means Vijay Nair needs money and they also said that AAP will give a 33 per cent share to Kavitha, the ED mentioned in its report.
