The Delhi High Court, under Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, has granted bail to businessmen Amit Arora and Amandeep Singh Dhall, who were implicated in a high-profile money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam of 2021-22. The decision came on Tuesday, providing a notable development in a case that has drawn significant attention due to its implications involving high-ranking officials and changes in the Delhi Excise Policy.
Amit Arora, Director of Gurugram-based Buddy Retail Pvt Ltd, and Amandeep Singh Dhall, Director of Brindco Sales Private Limited, were arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has also been actively involved in investigating this case, which centers around alleged irregularities and corruption in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy for the year 2021-22.
According to the investigation by the ED and the CBI, there were undue favours extended to certain liquor license holders, with Arora and Dhall playing significant roles. Arora was described as a close associate of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia, who served as the Deputy Chief Minister and held the excise portfolio at the time the controversial policy was crafted. Allegations against Arora involve managing and diverting illicit funds collected from liquor licensees.*
The probe agencies assert that Dhall was deeply involved in the formulation of the policy and facilitated kickbacks to the AAP, with recoupments being orchestrated by a group referred to as the “South Group,” a purported cartel of businessmen and politicians.
The excise policy in question was implemented on November 17, 2021, but was scrapped by the end of September 2022 amid growing allegations of corruption and malpractice.
