The Delhi Liquor Scam, also called LiquorGate, is an alleged political scandal concerning the Delhi Government, which paved its way through the introduction of Delhi's Excise Policy from 2021 to 2022. This policy brought in private firms and enterprise companies into the retailed liquor sectors. The allegations involve favour to the owners and shareholders of private sectors, waivers and reduction of license fee and creation of numerous licenses to all the new incoming enterprises, with exchange of bribery.[1] The Excise policy 2021-22 created by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, projected it as a reform in the excise and retail liquor sector, thereby boosting the revenue by Rs 9,500 crores. This policy mainly focused on moving out the retail sector, and making way to large private sectors and firms. The policy was structured by a group of ministers from the cabinet, and the draft was approved and accepted by the government in March 2021.[2][3]
When the final draft was brought in front of the Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena for approval, he approved the bill with a condition that, new liquor vendors in non-confirmed areas can only be opened upon the permission of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. In November 2021, a government official from Delhi stated that, "for the first time ever all state-owned liquor shops were going to be shut and is transferred completely to private business players". Later the new policy was withdrawn and the government backed the old policy to be continued for now.[4][5]
The Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia, who also holds the Excise portfolio brought in the Delhi's Excise Policy (2021 - 2022). As per the policy it indicated the exit of Delhi government and its grip over the retail MRP liquor sectors. The bill further invited private sectors and enterprises to enter the field of liquor business, with an aim to boost up the excise department revenue by over a large percentage.[6] This also provided leveraged licensing and certificates of authority to the newly opened retailers and shops. Areas of Delhi were categorized into 32 zones which further included 8 - 10 wards, each of which would have around 27 outlets. This meant every municipal ward had 2-3 liquor vendors operating in the area.[7]
The government also said that it would eliminate the liquor mafia, and enhance consumer experiences visiting new outlets. There were also guidelines issued for the appearance of the outlets. The private liquor shops were allowed to provide discounts on MRP to attract customers, and were also given provision to deliver liquor until 3 AM. This bill was further sent to the Lieutenant Governor's sign and approval, which was passed by the governor with certain conditions on unauthorized areas set.[8]
The bill faced severe backlash from the opposition BJP and Congress, stating that the government has sold all the licenses in exchange for money and accused that the government has handed over the Excise department fully to private players and business agencies. The liquor license holders were allegedly given extensions according to their own will. The opposition also accused that the new policies contradicted the excise policies, and businessmen were given an exemption of 30 crores, as per their will. Both the parties also sought intervention from central agencies to investigate the same. Sisodia further added that "849 new outlets were to be opened, including in unauthorized areas under the new policy which even the governor had approved."[9][10]
The state opposition BJP also released a "sting operation" video, where father of an FIR accused Sunny Marwah collected money stating it as "excise duty" under the new policy. The BJP IT-cell head Amit Malviya released the video, and voiced large corruption and bribery by officials, and pitched in concerns that the state suffered with middlemen and mafias in the government.[11]
Manish Sisodia who also heads the excise department accused the governor V K Saxena who had approved the bill earlier without any issues of opening outlets even in unauthorized areas, of "changing stand as per requirements". Further AAP also accused that L-G Saxena exchanged demonetized currency notes worth of ₹1,400 crore while he was chairman of a government Khadi body in 2016.Saxena expressed huge objections stating it to be "baseless" and "deliberately misleading" levelled accusations. He advised the chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his colleagues to refrain from these "petty behaviors and statements". He also sent legal notice and said that he would sue AAP leaders, by lodging a defamation case against them.[12][13]
On 20 August 2022, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids on the Deputy CM Sisodia's residences to determine the series of accusations charged on the government relating to the liquor scam. Raid were also carried out on civil servants and officers related to this issue. The state opposition BJP lauded the agency to bring out the truth and the culprits to be punished. The opposition parties cried foul and vendetta politics by BJP over the raids executed. Kejriwal tweeted "We welcome the CBI and support any type of investigation".[14][15]
On 6 September 2022, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out raids in 40 locations across the country. As per the officials these raids were carried out on the basis of FIR filed by the CBI, in which Manish Sisodia was named as accused. The premises of private individuals and other government officials linked to these charges were probed and investigated.[16]