Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta tabled the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on the Delhi Excise Policy in the Assembly on the second day of the session, shedding light on alleged irregularities in the policy introduced by the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
The report highlighted that the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, which aimed to simplify liquor trade, ensure transparency, curb monopolies, generate revenue, and improve consumer experience, failed to meet its objectives.
According to the CAG findings, the policy had several design flaws, including the exclusivity arrangement between manufacturers and wholesalers and the creation of retail zones with a minimum of 27 wards per zone — a structure that limited total licenses and increased the risk of monopolization and cartel formation.
The report also pointed out the Excise Department’s failure to properly scrutinize the financial capacity, management expertise, and long-term viability of license holders. Planned measures like setting up liquor testing laboratories, batch testing for quality assurance, and enhanced monitoring and regulation were never implemented.
Addressing the Assembly, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena stated that the report would reveal the administrative failures of the previous government and help the current administration address them. “We have instructed all department heads to prepare a 100-day development plan. By presenting the CAG report, we aim to expose the shortcomings of the past and focus on better governance,” Saxena said.
Earlier, BJP MLAs Satish Upadhyay and Harish Khurana criticized the AAP government, accusing it of widespread corruption and mismanagement. “Today is an important day — those who committed injustices and corruption will be held accountable. From Arvind Kejriwal to Atishi, Saurabh Bhardwaj to Somnath Bharti — everyone involved will face the consequences. This is just one of many scams, including those in transport, health, and the Jal Board. The CAG report will finally reveal the truth to the people of Delhi,” Upadhyay declared.