On February 27, 2023, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on charges of corruption related to the formulation and implementation of the now-defunct Delhi Excise Directive for 2021–2022.
Delhi Excise Directive 2021–22 came into force on November 16, 2021. This changed the way liquor was sold in the city. The government went bankrupt, leaving only sole proprietors to run liquor stores.
New liquor policy
Under the new liquor policy, the city was divided into zones, ones, and companies were invited to bid on the zones.
Also last year, 849 retail sales licenses were issued through public tenders by the Excise Department. For the first time, stores were allowed to offer discounts to retail customers, reducing drying days to 21 the new policy also included provisions for home delivery of alcohol.
They even suggested lowering the drinking age from 25 to 21. They also suggested that shops stay open until 3 a.m. to 32 zones and companies were invited to bid on the zones.
Also last year, 849 retail sales licenses were issued through public tenders by the Excise Department. For the first time, stores were allowed to offer discounts to retail customers, reducing drying days from 21 to 3.
The new policy also included provisions for home delivery of alcohol. They even suggested lowering the drinking age from 25 to 21. They also suggested that shops stay open until 3 am. However, these were never implemented.
What was the Old Alcohol Policy?
Under the old liquor policy, Delhi had 864 liquor stores, of which 475 were operated by four government agencies and 389 were private. Of these, he observed 21 dry days, and no kickbacks were given.
There was no minimum carpet area required for a liquor store to open in the state.
liquor Income
Delhi has introduced the new system in hopes that “the government will get at least 4,500 rupees of additional revenue each year.”
According to The Times of India, the Delhi government claims that it has raised Rs 1,484 from 2022 to the first quarter of 2023. However, sources denied the allegation that “out of the total revenue, 98 billion rupees are refundable deposits”.
The center reportedly said sales tax revenue remained flat in the first quarter of this fiscal year compared to 2019-20, In particular, sales in 2020 and 2021 were impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown.
Sources estimate that wine sales are up 87% for him, 59.5% for whiskey and beer, and 5.5% for him.
What’s the Manish Sisodia Controversy?
The new excise tax policy was proposed by a group of cabinet ministers on May 2. Before implementation, the policy had to first be reviewed by Delhi’s chief secretary (CS), Naresh Kumar.
Manish Sisodia Jailed
In a veiled attack on the BJP, former Delhi MP Manish Sisodia has been jailed in connection with an excise tax policy fraud case, and on Wednesday he sent people to prison for opening schools in the country. He said that
“Until today, we heard that prisons would close when schools opened in rural areas. But now these people are starting to lock only those who open schools in the country,” Sisodia tweeted.
Manish Sisodia in Tihar jail.
At a news conference on Wednesday, AAP’s Saurabh Bharadwaj said it was the first time that the pending Manish Sisodia had been detained in Tihar Prison cell No. 1 alongside the country’s most stubborn and violent criminals. claimed to be.
Conspiracy
Bharadwaj, who has been charged with “conspiracy,” said:
“Manish Sisodia has just learned that he is being held in Prison No. 1, which has been repeatedly featured on television and in the newspapers and houses some of the most dangerous and violent criminals in the country.”
Manish Sisodia, meanwhile, is being held in the more secure No. 1 Prison, where security is tight, prison officials said. “The administration said there were no terrorists or gangsters in Prison No. 1, and well-behaved prisoners were housed in Prison No. 1. Sisodia did not receive VIP treatment,” the source added.
Accused
The CBI announced that starting in 2021, he will be accused of corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-defunct alcohol policy of 2022.
Arrested Sisodia. Officials said his answer was unsatisfactory. Meanwhile, AAP leaders defended Sisodia, saying he was “innocent.” Party members staged a protest near the BJP headquarters on Monday.
On Monday, the BJP called for the resignation of CM, Arvind Kejriwal, who arrested two of his ministers on corruption charges.
The party also criticized the AAP’s street protests against the arrest of Delhi Deputy Prime Minister Manish Sisodia, claiming the CBI was legally targeting “corrupts”.
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