Vijay Nair, founder and former CEO of artist and event management company Only Much Louder and an Aam Aadmi Party insider, has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with alleged irregularities in the controversial New Delhi excise policy case. Nair was named in the FIR filed by the CBI, alongside Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and 13 others.

“Reliable sources have revealed that Vijay Nair, former CEO of Only Much Louder, an entertainment and event management company; Manoj Rai, ex-employee of Pernod Ricard; Amandeep Dhal, owner of Brindco Spirits; and Sameer Mahendru, owner of Indospirit, are actively involved in irregularities in framing and implementation of excise policy,” notes the FIR.

The CBI alleges that Manish Sisodia and other accused made changes to the excise policy 2021-22 without the approval of the competent authority—the state cabinet—with “an intention to extend undue favours to the licensees post tender.” Nair stands accused of being involved in the drafting of the policy despite not being an elected official or public servant, and of being part of the conduit of illicit funds towards the accused public servants.

A key architect of OML’s success in the music, comedy and content space, Nair left his role at the company in 2017, a year before he was accused of multiple cases of sexual harassment as reported by the Caravan. His association with the AAP dates back to 2014-15, when he started out as a part-time volunteer before moving up the ranks to the party’s communications in-charge by 2019, according to the Indian Express.