A recent CAG report blew the lid off the Rs 2,026 crore loss to the exchequer on account of the now scrapped Delhi liquor policy scam. India Today obtained a copy of the report that reveals major shortcomings, policy variances and breaches in the grant of licences along with corruption and compromise involving AAP personalities.
The report accuses the policy of having not achieved some of the goals, disregarded recommendations from an expert panel by the Group of Ministers (GoM) led by the then Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia. It claimed that licences were issued to companies that made a loss in their operations, and offenders received no punishment. Further, major policy decisions were taken without Cabinet endorsement, Lieutenant Governor’s signature, or Assembly endorsement, thus being unconstitutional.
Rolled out in November 2021, it sought to liberalize the trading of liquor and enhance revenue, but it has been surrounded by corruption. It has been repealed partly due to increasing criticism and based on alleged cases of fraud associated with its financing.
Political Fallout
The BJP has used the report to discredit the AAP in the run up to Delhi elections. Lashing out at the AAP government, the BJP president J.P. Nadda of scary and chaotic approach said that AAP’s excise policy is a “model of loot”. This Nadda said, “Stubborn, arrogant, misled: congress’s new slogan of Intoxicated by power high on misgovernance.” A loss of Rs 2,026 crore to the exchequer money.”
In response, AAP leader Sanjay Singh on Friday dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. “Where is this CAG report? Aren’t these filed at the BJP office?” he enquired, stressing that the report has not been presented at the Delhi Assembly either.
The anomalies highlighted by the CAG report have stepped up the between BJP and AAP by fueling the conflict, with the BJP demanding some answerability while AAP rejecting the accusations asserting them untrue. The controversy grows even murkier at a time when poll battles are set to unfold in Delhi.
