Vinod Chauhan Granted Bail in Delhi Excise Policy Case

New Delhi [India], September 12: The Rouse Avenue Court has granted bail to Vinod Chauhan, who was arrested in connection with the Excise Policy case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Chauhan was taken into custody in May 2024. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja passed the order and granted him bail in the case.

The ED had accused Chauhan of transferring bribes allegedly received by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) via hawala, in connection with the Delhi excise policy-linked money-laundering case. The ED stated that Chauhan allegedly played a role in money sent for AAP’s Goa election through Chanpreet Singh and was also allegedly in touch with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Chauhan was arrested by the ED in May and has been in judicial custody. Recently, several others accused in the case were granted bail by the Delhi High Court as well as the Supreme Court of India. Chauhan was arrested for allegedly transferring cash bribes from the South Group to the election campaign of Aam Aadmi Party during the Goa Assembly Elections.

According to the ED, Vinod Chauhan was arrested from Goa’s ED Zonal Office. He was involved in the transfer of Rs 25.5 crores out of Rs 45 crores used in AAP’s Goa elections. The ED lawyer submitted that Chauhan was aware that the money was related to the Delhi liquor excise policy scam and was deeply connected with the key conspirators.

The ED further alleged that Chauhan was primarily involved in hawala transfers and cash movements and acted as a middleman for bureaucrats and politicians. Searches were conducted at various locations, and Rs 1.06 crores was seized from his residence. The agency claimed that Chauhan knew the amount of Rs 1.06 crores was from the South Group and was holding it for AAP leaders.

In the Excise case, the ED and the CBI alleged that irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy, undue favours were extended to licence holders, the licence fee was waived or reduced, and the L-1 licence was extended without the competent authority’s approval. The beneficiaries diverted illegal gains to the accused officials and made false entries in their books of account to evade detection. The excise department had decided to refund the earnest money deposit of about Rs 30 crore to a successful tenderer against the set rules, resulting in an alleged loss of Rs 144.36 crore to the exchequer. A waiver on tendered licence fees was allowed from December 28, 2021, to January 27, 2022, due to COVID-19.