The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken a decisive step by filing a corruption case involving an assistant director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and several others, unraveling an intricate tale of alleged bribery worth ₹5 crore. The accused are accused of attempting to shield Delhi businessman Aman Dhall, relating to the previously annulled Delhi excise policy for 2021-22. The ED assistant director in question, Pawan Khatri, along with others, came under the scrutiny of the Enforcement Directorate in July this year. Following their inquiry, the ED transferred the case to the CBI.
The corruption case involves multiple individuals, including Dhall and Khatri. The first information report (FIR) registered by the CBI also names ED’s upper division clerk Nitesh Kohar, Claridges Hotels’ chief executive officer Vikramaditya, Air India employee Deepak Sangwan, and chartered accountant Praveen Kumar Vats. These individuals are alleged to have played roles in facilitating the bribery scheme. Additionally, Dhall’s father, Birender Pal Singh, is also mentioned in the FIR.
The FIR outlines the sequence of events leading to the alleged bribery. It states that Sangwan, an assistant general manager at Air India, assured Vats of his ability to help Dhall evade arrest in connection with ED’s liquor scam case in exchange for money. This assurance led Vats to transfer ₹3 crore to Dhall in six installments between December 2022 and January 2023. Subsequently, an additional ₹2 crore was reportedly transferred in four tranches.
The FIR highlights further interactions and discussions among the accused. After Dhall’s arrest by the ED, meetings between Vats and Sangwan reportedly took place. Sangwan indicated that higher authorities dictated Dhall’s arrest and that he lacked influence over them.
Subsequent to these events, discussions arose regarding the return of the bribe money. On June 29, ₹1 crore was returned to Dhall’s father.
In an interesting twist, Vikramaditya, the CEO of Claridges Hotels, was mentioned in the complaint for his role in the alleged scheme. The complaint suggests that Dhall approached Vikramaditya, who then tasked Vats with aiding Dhall.
The investigation revealed evidence including CCTV footage of meetings between the accused individuals. Moreover, ₹2.19 crore in cash, suspected to be bribe money, was seized from Vats’ residence. Additionally, documents related to the excise policy probe were recovered from Sangwan’s premises.
The Delhi government’s 2021-22 excise policy aimed to revitalize the liquor industry in the city, introducing changes to benefit traders and customers. However, the policy was curtailed prematurely, leading to a CBI probe into alleged irregularities. The case has brought to light a complex web of corruption allegations involving public officials and business figures, underscoring the significance of ethical governance and accountability.
Sources By Agencies
