Delhi liquor scam: ED arrests Hyderabad businessman Arun Pillai

HYDERABAD: Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday arrested Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Ramachandra Pillai in connection with the Delhi Excise policy scam.
Investigating agencies alleged that Arun Ramchandra Pillai collected the bribes from another accused, Sameer Mahendru, managing director of lndospirit and handed it over to the other accused. The Enforcement Directorate has already attached the properties of Arun Ramachandra Pillai.ED attached Rs 2.2 crore worth of land in Vattinagulapalli, owned by Arun.
ED alleged that corruption and conspiracy in formulating and implementing the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 led to the loss of at least Rs 2,873 crore to the exchequer.
ED alleged that Arun, a south liquor manufacturer group's frontman, was given a 32.5% shareholding of Indospirits. Due to the cartelization, Indospirits could earn net profits of Rs 68 crore. Out of this, an amount of Rs 29 crore was transferred, directly or indirectly, to the account of Pillai and related accounts. CBI and ED alleged that transfer of 61% of profits against Pillai's shareholding and investment of Rs 3.40 crore is done in lieu of and against the kickback amount of Rs 25 crore paid in advance by the liquor manufacturers from the South.
ED found that Arun has transferred an amount of Rs 4.75 crore to the account of accused Mootha Goutam, who owns a TV channel, and an amount of Rs 3.85 crore has been transferred to the bank account of accused Abhishek Boinpally.
Arun has floated Robin Distilleries Private Limited, Robin Distribution LLP. Arun. The address of Robin Distribution in Navketan Complex, Sarojini Devi Road Secunderabad, is the same as that of a beauty salon Anu's owned by relatives of TRS MLC Kavitha Kalvakuntla.
CBI had earlier conducted searches at the residence of Arun Ramchandra Pillai at Kokapet.
CBI alleged in the chargesheet the accused Vijay Nair, Abhishek Boinpally, Arun Ramchandra Pillai and Dinesh Arora (who turned approver subsequently), and others entered into a criminal conspiracy during the period from April 2020.