New Delhi: Among the fifteen accused named in the alleged excise fraud being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are liquor barons who represent premium alcohol brands including Glenlivet, Absolut and Jameson, and former CEO of an event management company which managed several shows of comedy collectives like East India Comedy and All India Bakchod (AIB), ThePrint has learnt.
The accused include Vijay Nair, former CEO of Only Much Louder, an entertainment and event management company, Manoj Rai, ex-vice president of Pernod Ricard, Amandeep Dhal, owner of Brindco Spirits, Sameer Mahendru, owner of Indospirit, Amit Arora, director of Buddy Retail Pvt. Limited, Dinesh Arora of Radha Industries, Sunny Marwah of Mahadev Liquors, a proprietorship firm and Arjun Pandey of the National Media Centre.
ThePrint has a copy of the FIR.
CBI sources claimed that Nair, founder of Only Much Louder (OML), a Mumbai-headquartered company, known for organising the NH7 Weekender concerts and AIB’s roast shows, had been working as a part time volunteer with the AAP for over eight years and organised several events for them. Nair, CBI sources alleged, played an instrumental role in giving money to public servants in exchange of favours for the liquor barons.
OML has reportedly worked closely with the band Pentagon and musician Vishal Dadlani. In 2013, the event management company also organised three shows of internationally acclaimed comedian Russell Peters in India and The Weirdass Pajama Festival, as a minority partner with comedian and actor Vir Das’ Weirdass Comedy. In March 2013 Nair’s company also co-hosted an event titled ‘The Coalition’ at the Buddh Circuit in Noida, previously known for hosting India’s F1 race.
CBI sources said Dhal, Mahendru, Amit Arora, Dinesh Arora, Marwah, and Pandey are also under probe for their involvement and that the new excise policy extended wrongful gains to liquor wholesalers like Indospirit and Brindco.
“It is alleged waivers were given to these liquor barons in exchange of monetary benefits and they were all part of a nexus, which is now being probed,” a CBI source said.
According to sources in the CBI, those named in the FIR “connived with Sisodia (Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia) and officials of the excise department for undue benefits”.
On Friday, CBI had raided 21 locations, including the residences of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, former excise commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna and three public servants, in connection with a probe into the capital’s revamped excise policy.
On 22 July, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena had recommended a CBI probe in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s Excise Policy 2021-22, alleging “deliberate and gross procedural lapses”, according to an assessment report prepared by the chief secretary.
It has been alleged that the violations caused losses of over Rs.140 crore to the State exchequer, under the revamped excise policy of 2021-22.
Also read: Hours after deputy Sisodia raided, Delhi CM Kejriwal slams BJP for impeding his ‘good’ work
The alleged money trail
According to the FIR registered on 17 August, all the said accused were “actively involved in irregularities in framing and implementation of the Excise policy of GNCTD (Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi) for the year 2021-22″.
The CBI FIR states that Sameer Mahendru, the managing director of liquor company lndospirit, had transferred an amount of Rs 1 crore to an account of Radha Industries, managed by Dinesh Arora. A man identified in the FIR as Arun Ramchandra Pillai, would allegedly collect money from Sameer Mahendru to be given to public servants through Vijay Nair.
The FIR also adds that Pandey, from the National Media Centre, had once collected a huge cash amount, of about Rs. 2-4 crores, from Mahendru on Nair’s behalf.
Rai, former vice president of Pernod Ricard, was close to Sisodia and has been violating the statutory provisions of the excise policy, the CBI sources claimed.
According to CBI sources, Pernod Ricard, controls about a fourth of the overall whisky market in India.
The company’s website claims Pernod Ricard to be the top premium spirits organisation in the world, which represents 240 premium brands available in more than 160 countries, including Malibu, Ballantine’s, Chivas, Beefeater, Jameson, Havana Club, Royal Salute, Glenlivet and Absolut.
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
Also read: Ponty Chadha, Mallya era of flashy liquor barons over. ‘Kings’ want samaj sevak image now