Delhi LG Recommends CBI Probe Into Kejriwal-Led AAP Govt's Liquor Policy

Delhi LG, VK Saxena has recommended CBI probe into alleged violations of the Delhi Excise policy and “deliberate and gross procedural lapses” made by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has recommended an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into alleged violations of the Delhi Excise policy and “deliberate and gross procedural lapses” made by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who is the incharge of the Excise Department, reported news agency ANI. 

Recommendation for a CBI enquiry came after a recent report by the Chief Secretary established prima facie violations of GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR) 1993, Delhi Excise Act 2009 and Delhi Excise Rules 2010.

As per the ANI report quoting sources in the LG office, Deputy CM Sisodia is under the scanner in this matter for alleged deliberate and gross procedural lapses which gave an undue benefit to the tender process for liquor licensees for the year 2021-22. 

Sisodia had executed decisions in violation of the statutory provisions of the Excise Policy, which could have huge financial implications. Such "undue financial favours" to the liquor licensees after the deadline for awarding tenders caused huge losses to the exchequer, the report stated further quoting sources. 

It was further alleged that the decision was taken with the sole objective of benefiting the private liquor barons. 

The said excise policy was cleared by the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi cabinet during the peak of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in India in 2021. 

Reacting to the development, AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj alleged that the Centre was “trying all means to hinder” work being done by the Kejriwal-led government. 

“CM Kejriwal's growing reputation across the country, even in Panchayat elections, has threatened the centre. We'd been saying, especially after the Punjab win, that the BJP central govt is scared of us. Several enquiries will be launched in days to come,” he said. 

“We'd been saying the 2016 situation would return, enquiries by CBI, income tax, ED would be launched to stop us. They are trying all means to hinder our work. They had been after Deputy CM Manish Sisodia after our Health Min Satyendar Jain,” Bharadwaj said further.