CAG Report Exposes ₹2,026 Crore Loss in Delhi Liquor Policy: No LG Approval, Licensing Irregularities Under Kejriwal’s Government
Just 25 days before the assembly elections, a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on Delhi’s liquor policy has been leaked. The report claims that the government has incurred a revenue loss of ₹2,026 crore.
India Today Claims Access to Report
India Today has claimed that it possesses a copy of the report. According to the report, there were multiple irregularities in the liquor policy, including flaws in the licensing process. Additionally, it alleges that AAP leaders benefited through bribes.
Expert Panel Recommendations Ignored
The report highlights that ministers under the leadership of the Deputy Chief Minister ignored the recommendations of the expert panel. The cabinet approved the policy without seeking necessary approvals from the then Lieutenant Governor on several crucial decisions.
Irregularities in Licensing Process
Despite complaints, everyone was allowed to bid during the auction process. Licenses were also granted or renewed for entities that had faced losses. The CAG report is yet to be officially presented in the Delhi Assembly.
The 2021 Liquor Policy and Its Aftermath
The new liquor policy, implemented in Delhi in 2021, raised numerous concerns regarding the allocation of licenses. The policy was eventually rolled back. Allegations of corruption were leveled against Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, leading to their arrests. Both leaders resigned from their positions as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, respectively. Currently, they are out on bail.
CAG Report: Decisions in Liquor Policy That Skipped LG Approval
The CAG report has highlighted decisions made by the AAP government in Delhi’s liquor policy, where mandatory approval from the Lieutenant Governor (LG) was not obtained.
Reactions to the CAG Report
“The CAG report has exposed Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party government. Due to deliberate ‘errors’ in framing the policy, the government suffered a loss of ₹2,026 crore.”
— JP Nadda, Union Health Minister
“Where is this CAG report? Where do these claims come from? Was this report drafted in the BJP office? BJP leaders have lost their mental balance. The CAG report hasn’t been presented, yet they are making such claims.”
— Sanjay Singh, AAP MP
Delhi LG Grants Permission for Trial Against Arvind Kejriwal in Liquor Policy Case
On December 21, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor (LG), VK Saxena, granted permission to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to initiate legal proceedings against Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy case. Earlier, on December 5, the ED had sought approval from the LG to prosecute Kejriwal.
Background of the Case
In March this year, the ED filed a case against the former Chief Minister under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Following a four-hour interrogation, Kejriwal was arrested on March 21. Although he was granted bail in this case, the ED has been unable to commence the trial until now.
