Delhi Liquor scam: How Kavitha’s aide Arun Pillai spilled beans to nail BRS MLC

Hyderabad: Nine months after the alleged Delhi Liquor Policy Scam involving some of the political and bureaucrat biggies in the AAP government came to light, BRS MLC and daughter of Telangana Chief Minister- Kalvakuntla Kavitha Rao has been summoned for the second time for questioning to unravel her alleged role in ‘South-Cartel’.

Unlike the first summon issued by the Central Bureau of Investigation where she was questioned and allowed to go, sources say her arrest in the future is likely.

Who Nailed Kavitha?

Hyderabad businessman Arun Ramachandra Pillai who is a close associate of MLC Kavitha allegedly spilled the beans against her and South Cartel during questioning by the Enforcement Directorate. Pertinently, Arun was arrested a few days ago and what followed was an ED summons to Kavitha. Arun did the job of a conduit of collecting bribe money.

Though Arun was the first to be booked by the CBI, another close aide of Kavitha, Boinpally Abhishek Rao was the first to be arrested by the CBI. However the man reportedly ‘concealed’ his connection with Rao. Later, P Sarath Chandra Reddy, former MD Aurobindo, YSRCP MP’s son Magunta Raghava Reddy and Hyderabad based Chattered Accountant Buchi Babu, who was part of the South Cartel were arrested. However, Kavitha continued to skid safe.

“After ‘clearances’, based on the confession of one accused Dinesh Arora - Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was arrested on 26th February (Sunday) evening. And what followed was the arrest of Arun Ramachandra Pillai and a summon to Kavitha. Allegedly Arun has ‘built’ or made to build a case against Kavitha. Both will likely be made to confront each other’s statements during the questioning. Arun continues to stay in the custody of ED,” a reliable source told NewsMeter.

Who is Arun?

When the CBI booked 17 members, including top government officials of the Delhi Excise department, the name of Arun Ramachandra Pillai, a resident of Kondapur, surfaced in the FIR.

Arun’s name in the FIR opened a can of worms. The CBI began a rigorous investigation and carried out multiple searches in Hyderabad. The next to be hunted down was Boinpally Abhishek Rao.

Abhishek Rao is a confidant of a top TRS leader and a business partner of another co-accused in the Delhi liquor policy scam, Arun Ramachandra Pillai.

Abhishek and Arun are co-directors of Robin Distribution LLP Company which was incorporated in July 2022. Investigation revealed that it was a ghost company that existed only on paper.

Arun, a resident of Kokapet in Hyderabad, is among the 17 booked by the CBI. He reportedly was a courier who used to collect “undue pecuniary advantage” (money) from Sameer Mahendru (co-accused) of Indo Spirit and give it to the accused public servant through Vijay Nair. Abhishek (the son of one of the sisters of Anoos Beauty Parlour) was lobbying for several liquor barons.

“Abhishek was questioned for his association with Sameer Mahendru. CBI’s probe found that Abhishek Rao was acting as a south lobby and committed irregularities through cartelization. He accepted Rs. 3.85 crores from Sameer. In his defence, he cited it as a loan,” sources told NewsMeter.

Investigation revealed that Abhishek had collected Rs. 3.85 crores from co-accused Sameer Mahendru to pay a "commission" to the government officials. The money was supposed to be routed through his ghost company Robin Distribution.

What is Hyderabad connection to Delhi’s liquor policy irregularities?

The CBI received a tip-off that (L-1 Licence) holders issued credit notes (bills) to retail vendors to divert funds to benefit public servants involved in the irregularities. In addition ‘false entries’ were made in the accounts book to keep their record straight.

Amit Arora, Director of Buddy Retail Pvt in Gurgaon, Dinesh Arora of Delhi, and Arjun Pandey are close associates of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. The trio was involved in diverting and collecting money from Liquor Licensees to accused public servants.

Another accused Sameer Mahendru, MD, Indospirits had transferred Rs 1 Crore into Dinesh Arora–managed account of the Radha Industries.

Here comes the role of the Hyderabad man, CBI probe revealed that Arun Ramchandra Pillai, a permanent resident of Kokapet, Hyderabad used to collect undue pecuniary advantage (money) from Sameer Mahendru, MD, Indospirit for onward transmission to the accused public servant through Vijay Nair.