LG asks chief secy to probe ‘irregularities’ in Delhi excise licences

CM Kejriwal last week termed the CBI probe a ploy to arrest deputy CM Manish Sisodia, who is also the excise minister, and called the allegations “fake and baseless”.

Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena on Monday asked chief secretary Naresh Kumar to inquire into a complaint submitted to his office by a Delhi-based association of lawyers alleging irregularities in awarding of liquor licences in the national capital.

The complaint alleges favours to certain firms in allotment of zonal liquor licences, and the inclusion of blacklisted firms in the bidding process, apart from other alleged discrepancies. (File image)

The L-G directed the chief secretary to submit a report to him and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal within a fortnight, even as the Delhi government described the charges as baseless.

“The complaint that alleges cartelisation, facilitating monopolies and favouring blacklisted firms, brings out that the same was done in deliberate and premeditated violation of the new Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. The L-G will take appropriate action as per law, on the basis of the report,” according to the LG office, which declined to reveal the name of the organisation that filed the complaint.

When contacted, officials in the Delhi government on Monday said the points alleged in the complaint were false. “We welcome any enquiry or investigation into the matter. We know there is no truth to the claims. Delhi government will continue working for the welfare of the public unhindered,” a Delhi government official said.

The complaint alleges favours to certain firms in allotment of zonal liquor licences, and the inclusion of blacklisted firms in the bidding process, apart from other alleged discrepancies. HT is not mentioning the names of the companies or the details of the charges since the matter is yet to be investigated.

The development comes three days after the L-G recommended a CBI probe into the excise policy 2021-22 over contentions that several procedures were altered and sidestepped in order to benefit private liquor barons and individuals, and that an investigation must be carried out.

CM Kejriwal last week termed the CBI probe a ploy to arrest deputy CM Manish Sisodia, who is also the excise minister, and called the allegations “fake and baseless”. In June, Kejriwal had said in the Delhi assembly that the Centre was likely to arrest Sisodia by the end of August.