CAG Report Reveals AAP Government's Excise Policy Led to Rs 2,026 Crore Loss
Click to start listening
New Delhi, Jan 11 (NationPress) The AAP administration under Arvind Kejriwal ignored critical regulations while crafting the disputed Excise Policy, which has caused a financial setback of over Rs 2,026 crore to the treasury, according to excerpts from a CAG Report that surfaced on Saturday.
The shocking revelations from the 'leaked' CAG report emerge just before the February 5 Assembly elections in Delhi and highlight significant breaches including insufficient clarity in pricing, irregularities in the issuance and renewal of licenses, failure to penalize offenders, and neglecting to seek approval from the Lieutenant Governor, Cabinet, or Assembly.
The treasury suffered a loss of about Rs 890 crore as the AAP government failed to re-tender the surrendered retail liquor licenses, the CAG report noted.
Additionally, the government incurred an extra loss of Rs 941 crore due to exemptions granted to zonal licensees, according to the report.
A Group of Ministers led by Manish Sisodia allegedly ignored the recommendations from the expert panel and even permitted ineligible entities to bid for licenses.
The CAG report, which the AAP has dismissed as unauthorized, asserted that there were significant issues regarding the implementation of the excise policy.
The report indicated that some retailers retained their licenses until the policy's expiration, while others surrendered them prematurely.
The implications of the alleged misconduct, leading to Kejriwal, Sisodia, and various government officials facing accusations of money laundering and corruption, are sure to escalate the political climate in Delhi, where the AAP is striving for a fourth consecutive term.
The elections for the 70 Assembly seats will occur on February 5, with results announced on February 8. In the current assembly, the AAP holds 62 seats while the BJP has 8.
