Boinpally Abhishek Rao transferred money through hawala channels: CBI

Hyderabad: The Central Bureau of Investigation's probe into the Delhi liquor policy scam concerning Hyderabad businessman Boinpally Abhishekh Rao revealed that he was part of several meetings held in Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad with the co-accused persons and other liquor traders in connection with the formulation of liquor policy and to derive benefits of the provisions of the said policy.

Abhishek Rao was arrested by the CBI on 9 October and is currently under their custody. He is the second accused arrested by the CBI in the Delhi liquor policy scam.

The CBI's probe found that he was part of the conspiracy and transferred money through hawala channels to co-accused Vijay Nair (arrested by the CBI) through co-accused Dinesh Arora prior to the implementation of the policy, during the period November 2021 to July 2022.

The money transferred by another co-accused Sameer Mahendru of Indospirits also finally landed in Abhishek's account. He has not been able to satisfactorily explain the receipt of the money, the CBI said.

Initially, notices under section 160 of the CrPC were served to Abhishek and he attended the investigation. When his role surfaced in the conspiracy, notices under section 41(A) of the CrPC were served and he attended the investigation. He was interrogated in connection with the allegations and confronted with the available evidence. However, he sought time to rethink and recollect the facts regarding the incriminating facts showing his involvement in the conspiracy.

"Even after giving ample time and opportunities, he is not cooperating with the investigation and concealing the material facts related to the conspiracy of the alleged offence, the role of other accused, including public servants as well as money trail of the ill-gotten money transferred by him through hawala channels. He is giving evasive replies to the questions and not divulging the true facts of the case, which are exclusively in his knowledge. In view of his non-cooperation and concealment of the true facts, he has been arrested on 9 October," the CBI said.