The Aam Aadmi Party further claimed that Reddy was later released on bail on May 8, 2023 in alleged liquor scam, after he confirmed his alleged links with the Delhi chief minister.
Atishi said no money trail has been established in the alleged liquor scam case, adding further she said “AAP has, however, discovered the money trail”.
Referring to electoral bond data, Atishi said Sarath Chandra Reddy donated crores to the BJP that needs to be probe by the ED.
“Arvind Kejriwal was arrested two days ago in the alleged liquor policy case. He was arrested based on the statement of just one person – Sarath Chandra Reddy, the head of the Aurobindo Pharma. He owns several other companies. Sarath Chandra Reddy was called for questioning on November 9, 2022,” Atishi said.
Kejriwal Sent To 6-Day Custody, ED Reveals Six Big Charges Against Delhi CM in Liquor Policy ‘Scam’
“During the questioning, he said he never met Arvind Kejriwal and is not related with the AAP. However, he was arrested following this by the ED. After spending several months in the jail, Sarath Chandra Reddy changed his statement, saying he has met Arvind Kejriwal. Following this, Sarath Chandra Reddy got bail,” she added.
Hyderabad-based businessman P Sarath Chandra Reddy is one of the directors of Aurobindo Pharma Limited. He was arrested by the ED in the liquor scam case on November 10, 2022. The probe agency alleged him to be a part of south cartel.
On November 15, his company Aurobindo Pharma bought electoral bonds worth Rs 5 crore. All of them were given to BJP and they were encashed on November 21, 2022.
Aurobindo bought electoral bonds worth Rs 52 crore, of which Rs 34.5 crore went to the BJP. It also donated Rs 15 crore to Bharat Rashtra Samithi and Rs 2.5 crore to the Telugu Desam Party.
“Since the time discussion started in Supreme Court regarding the electoral bonds, BJP, SBI, central government, and Election Commission were trying not to disclose the details. However, now that it has been disclosed; it raises various serious questions,” said Delhi minister Saurabh Bhardwaj.
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Meanwhile, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court has sent CM Arvind Kejriwal to 6-day ED custody until march 28 after he was arrested for corruption in the liquor policy.
During the hearing for remand on Friday, Enforcement Directorate (ED) said Arvind Kejriwal is kingpin and key conspirator of Delhi liquor scam in collusion with his ministers, AAP leaders.
The ED has alleged that Arvind Kejriwal was directly involved in use of proceeds of crime generated in AAP’s Goa election campaign in 2022. The probe agency has calimed that CM Kejriwal was involved in conspiracy of formulation of liquor policy to favour certain persons, demanding of kickbacks.
The probe agency stated that Kejriwal demanded kickbacks from the ‘South Group’ in exchange for favours. Arvind Kejriwal “took advantage” of being Delhi CM to facilitate money laundering by AAP, a “major beneficiary” of proceeds of crimes, ED said.
(With PTI inputs)
