Supreme Court Ruling Against Businessman Accused in Delhi Liquor Policy Case

The matter regarding bail for Nair has been postponed to September 2 for further hearing. Justice Hrishikesh Roy, presiding over the bench, deferred the proceedings at the counsel representing the Enforcement Directorate’s request for a week’s time to file a reply to Nair’s bail plea. The bench, also comprising Justice SVN Bhatti, expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in filing a counter affidavit by the ED’s counsel, who had already appeared in the case long ago. In the previous hearing, the Supreme Court had issued a notice to the ED on Nair’s plea and asked the agency to file its reply by August 27.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Nair, cited a Supreme Court judgment that had allowed bail pleas of another individual on the grounds of trial delay. Singhvi argued that Nair, who has been granted bail in a corruption case but remains in custody in an ED case, has endured nearly two years of incarceration and that the trial process would take even more time. Last year, the Delhi High Court denied bail to Nair, who had moved the HC challenging a trial court order rejecting his bail application. The trial court had denied bail to Nair and four others, citing substantial incriminating evidence demonstrating their involvement in offenses under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The court noted Nair’s representation of the AAP and GNCTD in meetings related to the liquor business, despite his official position as the media and communication in charge of AAP. It also emphasized his alleged misrepresentation as an OSD in the Excise Department of GNCTD during one instance.