Aurobindo dir’s confession key to liquor scam probe

Hyderabad: Extracting a confession from Aurobindo Pharma director P Sarath Chandra Reddy, is likely to decide the direction of investigations into the Delhi liquor policy scam and this is turning into a big challenge for the Enforcement Directorate, say sources. More suspects are likely to be questioned and arrested by investigators, depending on evidence that emerges from Reddy’s interrogation.ED arrested Sarath Chandra Reddy in connection with the liquor policy scam and is being questioned. While ED sought 14-day custody, the court granted seven-day custody of Reddy and another accused, Benoy Babu.Investigators reportedly confronted Sarath Reddy with digital and physical records seized during 169 search operations conducted till date under Prevention of Money Laundering Act.ED is interrogating him with respect to other associates and entities involved in cartelization of the liquor trade in Delhi and if kickbacks were given to public servants. ED also questioned him regarding the alleged loss of 2,631 crore revenue to the exchequer. “He is being interrogated to identify the modus operandi of the offence and unearth the proceeds of crime,” an ED source said.“If he confesses to the role of politicians in the scandal and we are able to collate evidence, we can ensure action. So far, 140 mobile phones were damaged and servers manipulated, but we could extract information from them. We are processing it,” the source revealed. ED also cited the same reason for seeking custody of Benoy Babu of wine company Pernod Ricard.“Sarath Reddy and others led south group cartel and gave kickbacks of 100 crore through Vijay Nair, a web of multiple retail zones and Indo Spirits, as the wholesaler, which was recovering the payments in advance,” ED alleged.ED is probing who else from Hyderabad helped Sarath Chandra Reddy. The agency has been trying to extract names of ‘benamis’ and proxies through which the Aurobindo Pharma honcho ran the operations