NEW DELHI: Businessman Dinesh Arora, accused number 11 in the FIR pertaining to the alleged scam in implementation of Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, is set to turn a state witness in the case. Arora moved court on Monday with a request to pardon him. CBI is learnt to have informed the court that it has no objection to Arora turning an approver. The court will hear the matter on November 14. Arora’s statement has been recorded before a magistrate under Section 164 of CrPC, sources said. A few days ago, the court had granted anticipatory bail to Arora after the CBI did not oppose his plea. While not opposing Arora’s bail, CBI had said that the applicant had disclosed transactions of ill-gotten money through hawala channels/operators by the persons accused in the FIR and had also revealed the role of public servants in the conspiracy in which some undue favours were extended by them to the other accused persons. Excise case accused seeks in-camera proceedings In its FIR registered on August 17, CBI had alleged that Dinesh Arora and others accused in the case were associates of Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who was actively involved in managing and diverting the money collected from liquor licensees. The probe agency had said that Sameer Mahendru, another liquor businessman, had transferred an amount of Rs 1 crore to Radha Industries, managed by Arora. Arora moved the latest application under section 306 (tender of pardon to the accomplice) of CrPC and told the court of special judge MK Nagpal that he wanted a pardon in the case and that he was ready to “voluntarily make a true and full disclosure of all the facts pertaining to the case without any pressure, coercion or undue influence” by the CBI. “I am ready to make a voluntary and true disclosure regarding my role in the commission of the alleged offences. I have cooperated during the investigation. I have also made two statements before the IO in this regard. I have also made a confessional statement before the additional chief metropolitan magistrate (ACMM) regarding the facts and events pertaining to the commission of the alleged offences,” Arora submitted before the court. Arora’s lawyer, R K Thakur, told the court that the CBI has in its reply supported his client’s plea for turning a witness in the case as he was cooperative during the investigation. Thakur also requested the court for in-camera proceedings, saying it was a sensitive matter. In-camera proceedings do not allow anyone to be present except those related to the case. Watch Delhi liquor policy case: Manish Sisodia’s close aide Dinesh Arora turns ‘approver’
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/delhi-businessman-dinesh-arora-accused-in-excise-case-offers-to-turn-witness/articleshow/95366009.cms