Read Time: 05 minutes

Synopsis

While observing that Vijay Nair was a close associate of Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, the Delhi High Court on Monday 'denied' bail to former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) communications in-charge Vijay Nair in connection with the money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case related to the Delhi excise policy scam.

Denying bail to Nair, the bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said, "The accused person (Vijay Nair) in the present case, acting in furtherance of a conspiracy, circumvented the policy and got framed the policy in such a way that to continuously generate and channel illegal fund".

"It has also come record that the accused Vijay Nair was a close associate of Chief Minister GNCT of Delhi (Arvind Kejriwal) and Shri Manish Sisodia, the then Deputy CM", the court added.

"The investigation has further revealed that Vijay Nair arranged video call through face time with Chief Minister of GNCT of Delhi (Arvind Kejriwal), where the CM said that Nair is his boy and ....the allegations are extremely serious in nature. The alleged conspiracy has been well spun and there are prima facie credible material on record", Justice Sharma said.

"This court also does not find any irregularity or perversity with the order of the learned trial court. The learned special judge has correctly gone through the entire material and has given an opinion which seems to be in accordance with the law, there is no reason to interfere in the in the bail order dated February 16, 2023. I consider, in view of the seriousness and gravity of the matter....this court is not able to persuade itself to form an opinion that the petitioner is not guilty of such crime. Hence, the present application stands dismissed", the court ordered. 

Notably, on June 2, the single-judge bench had “reserved order” in former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) communications in-charge Vijay Nair's bail plea in connection with the money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy scam.

Background:

Notably, on February 16, Special Judge MK Nagpal of Rouse Avenue Court, Delhi, denied bail to Vijay Nair and four others in a money laundering case related to the Delhi Excise Policy Case.

Observing that “allegations are quite serious”, the court had denied bail to Nair, Sameer Mahendru, Abhishek Boinpally, Sarath Chandra Reddy, and Benoy Babu.

The judge in the 123-page order had stated that there was 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).

Case Title: Vijay Nair v. Directorate of Enforcement