[Delhi Liquor Scam Case] High Court issues notice in Hyd-Bizman Abhishek Boinpally's interim bail plea

The Delhi High Court issued notice on Monday in an interim bail petition filed by Hyderabad-based businessman Abhishek Boinpally, an accused in the Delhi Excise Policy case, challenging his arrest in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case, which is being investigated by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED).

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhary appearing for Boinpally also challenged his remand and the entire process which led to his arrest in the PMLA case.

The senior counsel contended, “My (Boinpally) son’s admission is hanging, as both, the parents are required for the admission these days”.

While issuing notice, Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma sought a response from the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Boinpally’s plea. Moreover, the court listed the matter for further hearing on April 12.

Notably, on February 16, the Special Judge MK Nagpal of the Rouse Avenue Court, Delhi denied bail to Abhishek Boinpally, Vijay Nair, Sameer Mahendru, Sarath P Reddy, and Binoy Babu and observed that “allegations were quite serious”. All of them were arrested by ED in the money laundering case related to the Delhi Liquor scam.

The judge in the 123-page order had stated that there is enough incriminating evidence to show the entire “modus operandi” adopted by the accused persons for the commission of offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

“Even the statement of the approver Dinesh Arora to some extent tends to corroborate the other oral and documentary evidence which has been collected and placed on record by the investigating agency”, the court had said.

The court had opined that the "accused persons do not even satisfy the triple test" as laid down in the case of P. Chidambaram Vs. Directorate of Enforcement.

Conclusively, the court had held, “Thus, keeping in view the totality of facts and circumstances & the above discussion...the court is of considered opinion that 'none of the accused' deserves to be released on bail in this case at this stage of proceedings as the allegations made against them are quite serious and relate to the commission of an economic offence of money laundering defined by Section 3 and made punishable by Section 4 of the PMLA. Hence, their bail applications are being dismissed”.

It is to be noted that on November 14, 2022, a Special Judge granted bail to two accused namely, Vijay Nair and Abhishek Boinpally in the CBI case related to the same scam. Thereafter, both were arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on the same day.

Recently, on March 14, Boinpally moved the Delhi High Court challenging the trial court’s order denying him bail in a case registered by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED).

Case Title: Abhishek Boinpally v. ED

Statue: The Code of Criminal Procedure; The Prevention of Money Laundering Act