CBI arrests MLC Kavitha\'s former auditor in Delhi excise policy case

Hyderabad: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the Delhi liquor case, on Wednesday arrested city-based chartered accountant Gorantla Buchi Babu for his alleged role in the scam.

Buchi Babu, according to CBI officials, was detained for his alleged involvement in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy, which resulted in wrongful gain for Hyderabad-based wholesale and retail licensees and their beneficial owners under the Delhi Excise Policy for the years 2021–2022. He will be produced before the court today.

Buchi Babu is the auditor for the South Group cartel, which includes Arun Pillai, the accused in the liquor scam, as well as Sri Avanthika Pvt Limited, Organomix Ecosystem Ltd, and Trident Chemphar Ltd, which are all owned by P. Sarath Chandra Reddy, director of Aurobindo. ED officials had already recorded Buchi Babu's statements on November 20, 2022, and October 8, 2022 in connection with the case following raids on his home and his office in Himayat Nagar.

Buchi Babu, Vijay Nair, Arun Pillai, and Abhishek Boinapally were part of the South Group cartel, who are accused of transferring Rs 100 crore in kickbacks in exchange for obtaining licences for liquor stores in Delhi. Buchi Babu allegedly destroyed six mobile phones and six SIM cards.

In March 2021, Arun Pillai had allegedly approached Buchi Babu for finding a joint venture partner for Indo Spirit Group of companies. After multiple meetings and discussions, Buchi Babu had pitched business proposals for Sarath Chandra Reddy’s Avanthika, Trident, and Organomix companies. In the meeting, Vijay Nair gave an overview of Delhi's new excise policy and invited business persons to participate in the South Group cartel.