Delhi High Court Grants Bail to Arun Ramchandra Pillai in Excise Policy Scam

The Delhi High Court granted bail to Hyderabad businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai, implicated in a money-laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy scam. The court noted prolonged incarceration without trial was unjust. Pillai, involved with 69,000 documents and 493 witnesses, must post a Rs 10 lakh bond with two sureties.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted bail to Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai in a money-laundering case associated with the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna highlighted that the Supreme Court had emphasized ''bail is the rule and refusal an exception," in the bail grant to former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in a related matter, emphasizing that prolonged incarceration without trial should not be permitted.

Pillai, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 6, has been behind bars since then. The case involves approximately 69,000 pages of documents and 493 witnesses. Other accused, including Manish Sisodia, K Kavitha, and Vijay Nair, have already been granted bail under similar conditions. The court ordered Pillai to post a personal bond of Rs 10 lakh and two sureties.

Justice Krishna noted that with the substantial evidence and a complete investigation, Pillai is not considered a flight risk. As noted in the bail order for Sisodia in a related case, the court determined there was no potential for tampering with evidence, which is predominantly documentary and already seized. The court recently also granted bail to liquor businessman Sameer Mahendru and AAP volunteer Chanpreet Singh Rayat.

(With inputs from agencies.)