CBI claims in Delhi Liquor scam: New excise policy rules were changed 6 days after LG’s approval

The CBI on Saturday summoned 5 accused for questioning in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy scam. Meanwhile, CBI sources claimed that the new excise policy was changed by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisadia only six days after the Lt Governor (LG) approved it. This was done without LG’s knowledge. LG approved on 24 May 2021. But on 31 May 2021, some rules were changed at the behest of Sisodia.

CBI suspects benefit of license holders
When the new excise policy was sent to the LG, it was told that this would solve the problem of illegal leakage and uneven distribution of liquor in Delhi. The CBI claims that the change in the rules made it appear that the policy was designed to give undue advantage to the licensees after the tender.

The condition of opening at least two contracts in a ward was added to every applicant. Earlier, the Delhi cabinet had given Sisadia full rights to decide on the excise policy. However, it was later withdrawn on the objection of LG. The CBI on Saturday raided 31 places in this case.

The CBI claims that the change in the rules made it appear that the policy was made to give undue advantage to the licensees after the tender.

BJP scared of Kejriwal’s popularity: Sisadia
Anticipating his arrest in three-four days, Manish Sisodia said that BJP has no problem with me or the excise policy. He has a problem with the increasing popularity of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The excise policy about which the controversy is being raised was made with great sincerity. If the Lieutenant Governor had not changed the policy 48 hours earlier, the Delhi government would have got a revenue of Rs 10 thousand crores.

Manish Sisodia said that the BJP has a problem with the increasing popularity of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Kejriwal behind the scam: Thakur
Union Minister Anurag Thakur said that the CBI may have made Sisodia an accused, but the main conspirator of the scam is CM Arvind Kejriwal. He questioned the CM that if your liquor policy was right then why did you take it back.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur said that even though Sisodia has been made an accused, Kejriwal is the main conspirator of the scam.