Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, July 22: Vinai Kumar Saxena, the lieutenant governor of Delhi, today suggested that the Central Bureau of Investigation look into the contentious new excise policy being implemented by the Arvind Kejriwal-led administration.
According to a press statement from Saxena’s office, a report by the Chief Secretary dated July 8 found numerous legal infractions “in addition to deliberate and severe procedural errors to grant post tender unwarranted benefits to liquor licensees.”
The Lieutenant Governor specifically mentioned Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia when stating that the study suggests ‘significant’ financial favours at the highest levels of politics. The Lieutenant Governor claimed that the new excise policy was imposed ‘single-mindedly’ to assist private liquor barons so that those at the top levels of government preceding Manish Sisodia would receive financial gains.
“Minister In-charge of the Excise Department, Manish Sisodia took and got executed, major decisions/actions in violation of the statutory provisions and the notified Excise Policy that had huge financial implications,” Mr Saxena’s statement said.
Additionally, he charged Sisodia with giving the liquor license holders improper financial favours even after the tenders had been chosen, costing the ex-chequer ‘vast losses.’
On November 17 of last year, the new Excise policy 2021–22, which awarded retail licences to private bidders for 849 vends dispersed throughout the city and divided into 32 zones, went into effect.
Due to their locations in unreliable parts of the city, several liquor outlets never opened. The local corporations sealed a number of these vending machines.
Both the BJP and the Congress have complained to the Lieutenant Governor and other central authorities, expressing their vehement opposition to the policy and asking for an investigation.
