Delhi Excise Policy Case: ED arrests Kavita’s alleged close associate Arun Pillai
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday arrested Arun Ramachandran Pillai in connection with Delhi Excise Policy case. This is the 11th arrest in the case.
Believed to be very close to Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s daughter Kavitha, Pillai represented the South Group. The South Group allegedly gave kickbacks of Rs 100 crore to the AAP leaders and the same were allegedly used in the Goa elections.
The South Group was represented by Abhishek Boinpally, Arun Pillai and Buchi Babu. Abhishek facilitated the transfer of Rs 100 crore kickbacks in connivance and conspiracy with Vijay Nair, Aam Aadmi Party’s communication in-charge, and his associate, Dinesh Arora.
ED had recently attached a land parcel worth Rs 2.25 crore in Vattinagulapalle, Hyderabad, owned by Pillai.
Pillai will be produced before Rouse Avenue District Courts later in the day. The ED is likely to seek his custody for a period of two weeks for questioning.
On March 2, ED arrested liquor businessman Amandeep Dhal, the director of Brindco Sales Pvt Ltd. His questioning led to the arrest of Pillai, sources said.
Dhal allegedly played a major role in the formulation, conspiracy and kickbacks paid by the south group. He had got a draft copy of the liquor policy before it was released. Dhal allegedly shared the draft copy with Binoy Babu. The ED has also alleged that he made arrangements for the meeting between South Grop persons and Vijay Nair.
The ED has claimed in the supplementary charge sheet that Vijay Nair, on behalf of leaders of the AAP received kickbacks to the tune of Rs 100 crore from the South Group. According to ED, prominent faces of the South Group include Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, Raghav Magunta, Sarath Reddy and K Kavitha.
With the arrest of Arun Pillai, the arrest of Kavitha seems to be imminent. Unless there is an internal understanding between BJP and BRS, it is most likely that Kavitha will be sent behind bars for her role in the Excise Policy case, analysts opined.