Delhi Excise Policy Case: Supreme Court Modifies HC Order, Asks YSRCP MP's Son To Surrender By June 12

The Supreme Court modified the Delhi High Court order that had granted interim bail to Magunta Raghava Reddy after noting that his grandmother was hospitalised after she fell in the bathroom.

The Supreme Court on Friday modified a Delhi High Court order granting 15-day interim bail granted to Magunta Raghava Reddy, the son of Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) MP Magunta Srinivasulu, in the Delhi liquor policy case. The SC ordered him to surrender on June 12.

According to a Live Law report, while the vacation bench comprising Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Rajesh Bindal did not cancel the bail granted to Reddy, it asked him to surrender on June 12.

The Delhi High Court had granted interim bail to Magunta after noting that his maternal grandmother was hospitalised after she fell in the bathroom.

The SC modified the order after taking note of the submission by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju that there were other relatives to look after Magunta's maternal grandmother.

"Having considered the submissions and also going through the medical documents of the maternal grandmother of the respondent, in our opinion, the purpose for which respondent has been released could be served if he asked to surrender on June 12, 2023," the bench said.

Earlier, a trial court had refused to grant him interim bail, saying it cannot be ignored that the accused was being prosecuted for money laundering which is a serious economic offence.

On Thursday, a Delhi court rejected the bail plea of Arun Ramchandra Pillai, a businessman from Hyderabad, who is an accused in the Delhi excise policy case. According to an IANS report, special judge MK Nagpal of Rouse Avenue Court denied Pillai's bail application on Thursday, stating that his involvement in the matter was more severe compared to other accused individuals who are currently in custody.

"This court is prima facie of the view that there is a genuine case made out by the investigating agency before this court showing active involvement of the applicant in the commission of the alleged offence of money laundering, and thus, this court is not able to arrive at any finding contrary to the said view," he said, as quoted by IANS.

The court noted that Pillai was not merely involved in the conspiracy but was also linked to various actions related to the proceeds of the alleged offence. These actions included concealing, owning, obtaining, or utilising the proceeds and presenting them as legitimate assets. Additionally, the court stated that the evidence suggested Pillai willingly participated in these activities and had full knowledge of their nature and intentions.

The court stated that the evidence and material collected during the investigation strongly implicated Arun Ramchandra Pillai in the alleged money laundering offence and his association with other conspirators. Pillai's defence argued that his arrest in the case was unjustified and illegal.

Magunta Raghava Reddy was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in February 2023 in connection with the Delhi Liquor Policy Scam. According to the ED, the alleged cartel involved in the case is referred to as the 'South Group'. The members of this group purportedly include BRS leader K. Kavitha, Sarath Reddy (the promoter of Aurobindo Pharma), YSRCP MP from Ongole Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, his son Raghav Magunta, and others.