Delhi Liquor Scam Case (Manish Sisodia case) and Education Model of Delhi government are burning topic which even shook Delhi and its politics spectrum. While, these issues and intervention of CBI and ED in the case has raised several questions upon the functioning of political parties and their dark reality. Let’s analyze these internationally acclaimed development models of Delhi.
Delhi Liquor Scam Case:
In May 2021, Kejriwal Government give Nod to Sisodia to make whatever changes in the Liquor Policy but, LG intervened in the matter which eventually forced Kejriwal to withdrew his decision of giving sole authority to Manish Sisodia. This New Liquor policy was proposed in 2020 when country was in terror of Covid19 and was implemented on 17th November 2021.
According to Old Liquor Policy, the liquor shops in Delhi were operated, controlled, and regulated by Excise department of Delhi government but, new liquor policy demolished this old system and privatized it. Here, only private players had sole authority to manage the liquor system without any government interfearence or control. This led to closure of all government liquor shops.
Allegations:
- The license for holding liquor shops are issued to only those people who are allegedly associated directly or indirectly with AAP government, Excise department, and other leaders of AAP.
- According to old liquor policy, it bared liquor company to sell liquor themselves or without any vendor but, this new policy allowed every company to sell liquor as per their interests. In return to that these companies filled pockets of excise officers, ministers and other AAP confidants with huge lump sum of money as commissions.
- This new liquor policy divided Delhi into 32 zones and in each zone 27 vendors were given license. Manish Sisodia gave nod to these vendors to sell liquor on whatever price as suit to them earlier it was regulated by Government thus; vendors started selling liquor at minimum prices and at offers like Buy One Get One Free to boost up the Liquor.
- Sisodia waived off 144.36 crores worth of License fee to benefit liquor vendors excusing 2nd Wave of the Pandemic. Secondly, this decision was wrong or illegal because it was done without seeking approval of the Cabinet. To demonstrate, Sisodia decreased nearly 50 rupees of Import Pass Fee on each bear case imports.
- Manish Sisodia even refunded Rupees 30 Crore to Liquor vendor reportedly near and dear to Sisodia. That Liquor Vendor don’t even had NOC from Airport Authority as his shop was in the Airport premise.
- Manish Sisodia extended license of liquor vendors even after it expired numerous times. Sisodia further misused the Approval Note of cabinet to implement his decisions.
Data and Facts:
In first quarter of financial year 2022-23, Delhi government treasure has already faced loss of Rupees 1485 crores. The sale of Whiskey and Wine has increased by 60% and 87% but, revenue decreased by nearly 80%. To demonstrate:
| Old Policy | New Policy | |
| MRP per 750ml liquor bottle | Rs: 530 | Rs: 560 |
| Retail Profit | Rs: 33.35 | Rs: 363.27 |
| Excise Tax | Rs: 223.89 | Rs: 1.88 |
| VAT | Rs: 106 | Rs: 1.90 |
In 2019-20, around Rs 10,000 crores worth of liquor was sold in which government received Rs 4200 crores as tax. In 2020-21 around Rs 7800 worth of liquor was sold in which government got Rs 3300 cr. Surprisingly, in fiscal year 2021-22 again Rs 10,000 cr worth of liquor was sold in which government received only 158 cr as tax. The concerned scam is estimated to be around 2,800 Crores.
CBI Intervention in Delhi Liquor Scam Case:
On July 8th 2022, Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar complained LG that Delhi government has violated Transaction of Business rules, 1993, Delhi excise Act, 2009, and Delhi Excise rules, 2010.
In the lieu of benefiting Liquor Vendors, many government officials including Minister in Charge of Excise department are charged.
On July 14, Kejriwal called urgent cabinet meeting to legalize all the illegal documents against Sisodia, even without informing Lieutenant Governor. As Delhi is a Union territory so it’s compulsory for the CM to inform LG before calling a Cabinet meeting.