Delhi LG recommends CBI probe into Kejriwal govt’s liquor policy, fresh flare-up begins

New Delhi: After months of lull and peace, the Delhi Lieutenant Governor and Kejriwal government are again heading on a warpath, as the former has approved CBI probe into Delhi government’s Excise policy, 2021-2022 over alleged violations & procedural lapses.

The Delhi LG VK Saxena recommended probe into the controversial excise policy, based on Chief Secretary’s report which showed prima facie violations of GNCTD Act 1991.

The new Excise Policy was launched in November last year, under which retail licences were given to private bidders across the city, in 32 different zones. Many liquor stores failed to open due to logistics issue while many other vends were sealed by the Municipal corporations for not conforming to the set guidelines.

The new Excise Policy also drew vociferous protests from the BJP & Congress and they also lodged complaint with the LG as well as central agencies against AAP govt’s ‘arbitrary’ policy roll-out.

Reports suggest that the Delhi Excise Policy has led to huge losses to the Exchequer as liquor licencees drew undue financial favours under the policy.

The recommendation of CBI probe into Delhi govt’s liquor policy has already led to war of words between the BJP & AAP.

BJP has accused the Kejriwal government of helping out liquor mafias at the cost of public exchequer while the AAP hit back by calling it a witch-hunt as the Centre was scared of it.

AAP Leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “we’d been saying, especially after Punjab win, that BJP central govt is scared of us. Several enquiries will be launched in days to come.”

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 Dy CM Manish Sisodia after our Health Min Satyendar Jain: AAP Leader Saurabh Bharadwaj pic.twitter.com/pdjCrAY6AJ

— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2022

Bharadwaj further 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 Dy CM Manish Sisodia after our Health Min Satyendar Jain.”

The recommendation for CBI probe comes a day after LG VK Saxena advised Kejriwal to not participate in the Singapore conference. Kejriwal’s proposed visit to Singapore for a conference has been a major bone of contention for last few days and the former has also written to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) regarding it.