CBI books ED assistant director, hotel CEO among seven for bribery in Delhi excise policy scam

New Delhi, August 29

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR against ED Assistant Director Pawan Khatri in connection with an alleged bribery of Rs 5 crore by liquor businessman Amandeep Dhall who wanted help in the Delhi excise policy scam case. 

Two officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), CEO of Claridges Hotels and Resorts have also been booked for allegedly taking Rs 5 crore from the owner of Brindco Spirits Amandeep Singh Dhall, who is an accused in the Delhi excise policy case.

Amandeep, owner/controller of M/S Brindco Sales Pvt. Ltd, which held the wholesale licence of M/S DIAGEO (M/S United Spirits Ltd.) for sale of liquor in Delhi, is alleged to be a part of a criminal conspiracy and cartel related to the alleged excise policy scam.

The case was registered by the CBI on August 25 against the seven persons — ED Assistant Director Pawan Khatri and Upper Division Clerk Nitesh Kokar; CEO of Claridges Hotels and Resorts Vikramaditya; Deepak Sangwan, an assistant general manager of Air India; Praveen Kumar Vats, chartered accountant; and Birender Pal Singh Dhall and his son Amandeep.

The CBI conducted searches at five locations in Delhi and NCR.

The CBI action was initiated basis a complaint from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) which alleged that Singh had paid Rs 5 crore bribe to Vats in tranches of Rs 50 lakh from December 2022 onwards to help Dhall in the excise policy case. The case has been registered by the probe agency under IPC sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. 

During the Delhi liquor scam investigation, it was learnt that a group of certain persons were involved in the activity of taking money in the name of senior ED officials. Accordingly, immediate action was taken by the officers concerned investigating the case and searches were conducted on July 4 and 5 at five places. 

The officials said that a total of Rs 2.19 crore was recovered from Praveen’s house during the search while 99 pages of the supplementary prosecution complaint in the liquor scam were recovered from the premises of Deepak. 

 Amandeep and his father had given Rs 5 crore – Rs 3 crore in December 2022 and then Rs 2 crore in January to Praveen Kumar Vats for arranging help in the ED with respect to the ongoing investigation in the liquor case against Amandeep, investigation revealed. 

The CBI has booked the accused for corruption, bribery and others charges under the IPC.