New Delhi, May 19 (NationPress) - The global liquor giant Pernod Ricard remains prohibited from re-entering the Delhi market due to a recent directive from the city’s Excise Commissioner, Sunny K. Singh. The order emphasizes that the "mere pendency of criminal proceedings, particularly involving allegations of economic crimes, justifies the exercise of caution and the denial of license privileges".

In a detailed 16-page ruling, the Excise Department rejected the French company’s plea for liquor license renewal, citing "serious economic offences" and ongoing criminal probes as reasons for the continued refusal.

The Commissioner highlighted that the Excise Department's actions are in accordance with principles of public trust, moral integrity, revenue protection, and regulatory discretion as outlined in the Delhi Excise Act, 2009. This decision marks another setback for the manufacturer of renowned brands such as Chivas Regal, Absolut Vodka, and Glenlivet.

This incident marks the third consecutive rejection for Pernod Ricard. The company has been absent from the crucial Delhi market since 2022, following the annulment of the city’s controversial 2021-22 excise policy under the then Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration, which sparked investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The ED accused the French liquor firm of unfairly gaining market dominance by illegally aiding local retailers through bank guarantees. However, the CBI has not formally charged Pernod Ricard in relation to the excise investigation.

According to the order from the Delhi Excise Commissioner, which has been reviewed by IANS, both the Supreme Court and High Court have affirmed that licensing authorities possess the discretion to evaluate the moral character of applicants, taking into account pending criminal charges when relevant.

"The final decision must be based on a thorough evaluation of the individual's conduct and the nature of the alleged offence. In light of the above principles and doctrines, the decision to deny Pernod Ricard India Private Limited's L1 license application as indicated in the order dated 13.04.2023 by the Deputy Commissioner (Excise/Licensing Authority) is firmly rooted in legal jurisprudence and thus upheld," the order states.

A representative for Pernod Ricard commented: "This order concerns our previous FY22-23 license application."

"While we do not concur with this decision, our primary objective is to secure a new license for the ongoing Financial Year. We will explore all legal options available to us and remain confident in the strength of our legal standing, eager to resume operations in Delhi at the earliest," the spokesperson added.