Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai refuted media reports that he has become an approver in a case relating to the alleged scams in the Delhi Excise Policy, terming them as “false” and “completely unfounded”.The ED has claimed in its charge sheet that Pillai was a close associate of Kavitha.
BRS MLC and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s daughter K Kavitha received the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons asking her to appear for questioning again.
Pillai’s counsel said on Thursday, 14 September, said that he would take legal action on behalf of his client against the media houses concerned, alleging the reports were “fake news and aimed at influencing the case”, reportedly.
Pillai’s counsel said neither his client nor his family members were contacted to ascertain the veracity of the claim about him having turned an approver.
“The contents of the media reports stating that Arun Pillai has become an approver and that he has recorded his statements in the case under Section 164 of CrPC are completely unfounded, patently false, and have no basis in facts.
It has come as a shock that certain media houses have chosen to publish such false information without verifying the truth,” the counsel said.
The ED has questioned Kavitha a number of times in connection with the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
She has been asked to appear before the anti-money laundering agency at its Delhi office again on Friday.
The ED has already grilled her thrice — for a total of almost 30 hours —to establish her alleged involvement in the scam.
According to the ED, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) communication head Vijay Nair, on behalf of AAP leaders, received kickbacks to the tune of ₹100 crore from a so-called “South Group” — as termed in the statements of various persons recorded during the investigation — to manipulate the Delhi excise policy to benefit them.
