The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Monday arrested an Assistant Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and 6 different officers for accepting bribes ₹5 crore to save lots of Delhi businessman Aman Dhall within the Delhi liquor rip-off case.

The accused named within the FIR have been recognized as Pawan Khatri, Assistant Director, ED; Nitesh Kohar, Upper Division Clerk; Deepak Sangwan, Employee of Air India; Amandeep Singh Dhall; Birender Pal Singh; Praveen Kumar Vats, Chartered Accountant; Vikramaditya, CEO of Claridges Hotels and Resorts.

ED arrested Dhall in reference to alleged irregularities within the excise coverage on March 1.

During the course of the investigation of the Delhi Liquor Scam case, it was learnt {that a} group of sure individuals had been concerned within the exercise of taking cash within the title of some Senior ED officers.

“From the statements of various persons recorded under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, it was prima facie revealed that Aman Dhall (accused in the Delhi Liqour scam case and arrested by both ED and CBI) and Birender Pal Singh (father of Aman Dhall) had given ₹5 crore (initially ₹3 crore in the month of December 2022-January 2023 and then ₹2 crore) to one Praveen Vats (Chartered Accountant) for arranging help in ED in respect of the ongoing investigation in liquor case against Aman Dhall,” an official assertion mentioned.

According to the FIR, “Sangwan, who works as an Assistant General Manager in Air India, had assured Vats that he can organize assist for Dhall in ED’s liquor rip-off case (by defending him from arrest) in lieu of some amount of cash.

Sangwan launched him to Khatri in December 2022. On the idea of assurance of Sangwan, Vats had taken ₹3 crore from Dhall in six tranches of ₹50 lakh every in December 2022-January 2023″.

The FIR mentioned that thereafter, an additional ₹2 crore was taken in 4 tranches.

Two days after Dhall was arrested by ED, CBI mentioned that Vats met Sangwan on the Priya Complex in Delhi.

“Sangwan advised Vats that the directions relating to the arrest of Aman Dhall got here from larger authorities and he doesn’t have affect with them,” the FIR mentioned.

Later, in June, discussions passed off the place the problem of returning the bribe cash was taken up. On June 29, ₹1 crore was returned to Dhall’s father.

On Vikramaditya’s position, the ED grievance says that Dhall approached him, after which he requested Vats to assist him.

Officials mentioned ED recovered CCTV footage of the conferences between the accused. In addition, it recovered ₹2.19 crore money of bribe cash from the residence of Vats and in addition discovered excise coverage probe-related paperwork from the premises of Sangwan.