In connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) detained Vijay Nair on Tuesday. He was the former CEO of Mumbai-based Only Much Louder.
When the Delhi government's excise policy was dropped, the agency had previously issued lookout notices against Mr. Nair and seven other private individuals. "Vijay Nair is communication in-charge of AAP. He was responsible for developing and implementing communication strategies in Punjab earlier and Gujarat now. He has nothing to do with the excise policy. Strangely, he has been arrested by the CBI just now in the excise case," the party said.
The Arvind Kejriwal-led party claimed in a statement that the arrest of Nair by the investigation agency was part of the BJP's "ongoing attempt" to undermine the AAP and thwart its campaign in Gujarat, where assembly elections are scheduled to take place this year.
The CBI allegedly conducted two raids on Nair's home in the previous month, but nothing illegal was discovered, according to the AAP.
It claimed, “Nair was called for questioning in the last few days and was pressured to take the name of Manish Sisodia. When he refused to do that, he was threatened that he would be arrested." The entire country is watching how the BJP is “completely rattled by the AAP's growing popularity across India,” it said.
According to the FIR, Sisodia associate Arjun Pandey previously procured 2-4 crore rupees in cash from liquor entrepreneur Sameer Mahendru on behalf of Nair, the former CEO of entertainment and event management firm Only Much Louder.
In a separate investigation into the suspected liquor licencing scam in Delhi last month, the Corporate Affairs Ministry brought Nair's name to light.