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The political landscape of India took a turn on Monday as Vijay Nair, a key figure in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was granted bail by the Supreme Court after spending nearly two years in Tihar jail. Nair, previously the party's communications in-charge, was arrested in September 2022 by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. This case, which has been under intense scrutiny, accuses the AAP government of irregularities and corruption in the implementation of the new liquor policy.
The Supreme Court, citing the principle that “bail is rule and jail is exception,” highlighted the extended pre-trial detention of Nair, stating that it cannot be considered a form of punishment. While Nair was granted bail by a Delhi court in the CBI case, he was subsequently arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on charges of money laundering related to the same allegations. This extended his stay behind bars.
Nair's arrest marked a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the Delhi excise policy. He was the first AAP leader to face arrest in the case, followed by the then Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia about five months later. Eventually, the party's leader and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal himself was arrested in March 2024. This series of arrests has intensified the political tensions between the AAP and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the national level.
Interestingly, Nair's arrest brought his role within the AAP into the public eye. While his contributions were previously known within the party circles, it was his arrest that prompted the AAP to openly acknowledge his position as the party's communications in-charge. However, the following day, Kejriwal downplayed Nair's stature, referring to him as a “chhota sa karyakarta (ordinary worker)” of the party. This shift in messaging raised questions about the party's strategy regarding Nair's role and the public perception of his influence.
Despite initially being a part-time volunteer, Nair rose rapidly through the AAP ranks to become a close confidant of Kejriwal and a key strategist within the party. His expertise in communications and his understanding of political messaging made him a valuable asset. At the time of his arrest, he was widely considered to be among the senior most leaders in the AAP.
Nair's background includes a successful career in the entertainment industry, having served as the CEO of Only Much Louder (OML), a prominent event management company. He resigned from this position in 2017, a year before allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced during his tenure at OML. However, his association with the AAP began earlier, around 2014-15. While his initial contributions were primarily focused on social media strategy, party events, and fundraising, his influence expanded significantly in 2019 when he took on a more active role in campaign management, messaging, and policy matters.
Sources within the AAP have indicated that Nair's stature in the party grew significantly following the AAP's decisive victory in the 2020 Delhi elections. Despite his high profile within the party, he preferred to operate behind the scenes. His expertise in social media and political communications, coupled with his strategic advice on policy matters, played a key role in the party's successes. While he held no official positions within the party's decision-making bodies or the Delhi government, his influence on the AAP's communication strategies and policy stances was undeniable.
Nair's arrest has sparked intense debate about the political motivations behind the investigation into the Delhi excise policy. The AAP leadership has consistently maintained that the entire investigation is politically motivated and orchestrated by the BJP to target Kejriwal and his party. The granting of bail to Nair and Sisodia has fueled these claims, with the AAP emphasizing that the truth will prevail despite the alleged attempts to suppress it.