The leaked CAG report on the Delhi liquor policy, as reported by 'India Today' highlights significant lapses, policy deviations, and violations in issuing licences.
The "scrapped" liquor policy led to Rs 2,026 crore loss, shows CAG report
During the UPA regime, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) estimated a loss to the state exchequer that could amount to Rs 1.86 lakh crore (then estimated US$37 billion) from coal allocation.
The CAG report earlier said the loss was about Rs 1.76 lakh crore from the 2G spectrum. The then Union Minister and a legal eye Kapil Sibal had said that there was 'zero loss'.
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| UPA PM Manmohan Singh with ex Defence Minister George Fernandes |
However Congress paid a big price and it lost power both in Delhi (city Govt) and the central government.
The Manmohan Singh government mad made the allocation of several coal blocks without auction, resulting in spectacular windfalls for some private operators.
Now a 'leaked report' in 2025 by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has revealed a revenue loss of Rs 2,026 crore to the exchequer due to alleged irregularities in the implementation of the AAP's Liquor policy in the national capital.
The leaked CAG report mentioned that the policy failed to achieve its intended goals and AAP leaders allegedly benefited from kickbacks.
The report also mentioned that recommendations by the expert panel were disregarded by the Group of Ministers (GoM) led by then-Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
Several top AAP leaders, including then-Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, were arrested.
However, they were granted bail last year.
The liquor policy, introduced in November 2021, aimed to revamp the liquor retail landscape in the national capital and maximise revenue.
Corruption and money laundering charges led to investigations by the ED and the CBI.
The CAG report, which is yet to be tabled in the Delhi Assembly, revealed that all entities were allowed to bid despite complaints, and the financial conditions of the bidders were not scrutinised. Licences were granted to entities reporting losses or, even, renewed, it said.
Additionally, the CAG found that violators were deliberately not penalised.
It also highlighted that key decisions related to the policy were taken without a Cabinet nod or approval by the Lieutenant Governor. Moreover, the new rules were not tabled before the Assembly for ratification, contrary to the official procedure.
As the surrendered retail licences were not re-tendered, the government suffered a loss of Rs 890 crore.
Moreover, exemptions granted to zonal licensees led to an additional loss of Rs 941 crore. Additionally, Rs 144 crore was waived in licence fees for zonal licensees on the pretext of Covid restrictions. This despite the tender document mentioning that commercial risks would lie solely with licensees.
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