In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court has granted bail to Vijay Nair, a key figure in the controversial Delhi Excise Policy case. Nair, who previously served as the communications-in-charge for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), had been accused of orchestrating a conspiracy to exploit loopholes in the 2021-22 excise policy of the Government of NCT of Delhi. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged that Nair, along with others, devised a scheme to secure undue financial gains through this policy manipulation.
The case took a crucial turn as the Supreme Court, in a special leave petition, reviewed the Delhi High Court’s decision to uphold the trial court’s dismissal of Nair’s bail application. The Division Bench, comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti, noted that despite the ED’s repeated assurances, the trial had not been completed in a timely manner, which influenced their decision to grant bail.
The allegations against Nair are serious, with claims that he deliberately influenced the excise policy to enable continuous illegal fund generation. It is further alleged that Nair arranged a video call between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and liquor businessman Sameer Mahendru, during which Kejriwal reportedly vouched for Nair’s trustworthiness.
The High Court, in its previous ruling, had recognized the gravity of the allegations and the sophistication of the alleged conspiracy, affirming that the materials on record presented a credible case against Nair. However, with the Supreme Court’s latest decision, Nair has now been released on bail, awaiting further proceedings.
