GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 14th Oct. The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to Hyderabad-based businessman Abhishek Boinpally in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. A bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and Aravind Kumar made a previous interim bail order permanent.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), represented by Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, did not oppose the bail request. “We are inclined to grant him bail,” stated the bench.
The apex court had initially granted Boinpally interim bail on March 20, noting that he had been in custody for 18 months. His release on interim bail was extended several times, most recently on August 13. As part of the bail conditions, Boinpally was required to surrender his passport and restrict his movements to the National Capital Region, except for travel to Hyderabad.
Boinpally had challenged his 2022 arrest, contesting a July 3, 2023, Delhi High Court order that dismissed his petition regarding the legality of the arrest. He argued non-compliance with Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which outlines the procedure for arrests based on evidence of suspected offenses.
The Delhi excise policy for 2021-22, implemented in November 2021, was scrapped in September 2022 amid corruption allegations. The CBI and the ED claim that the policy’s modifications involved irregularities and undue benefits for license holders. The money laundering case against Boinpally stems from a CBI FIR, initiated following a recommendation by Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena to investigate the alleged corruption.
Boinpally is accused of participating in secret meetings and conspiring to launder money alongside another accused, Sameer Mahendru, a liquor businessman.
