Should Have Been Prompt In Sending CAG Report On Liquor Scam To Speaker: HC Rap For Delhi Govt

New Delhi: The Delhi High court pulled up the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government on Monday for causing delay in placing before the Assembly Speaker a report by the Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) on the alleged liquor scam.

“The way you have been dragging your feet is something unfortunate. You should’ve been prompt in sending it (reports) to the Speaker and having a discussion at the floor of the assembly,” the court told the Delhi government.

“The delay in sending the reports to the Lieutenant Governor and your handling of the matter raises doubts about your bona fides,” Justice Sachin Datta said, as reported by NDTV.

The court also posted the plea by BJP MLAs, including Vijender Gupta, seeking a special session of the Delhi Assembly. But it raised apprehensions as to how would it be possible to hold a special session ahead of the elections.

Earlier, a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)—claimed media reports— revealed a revenue loss of Rs 2,026 crore to the exchequer due to alleged irregularities in the implementation of the now-scrapped liquor policy of the Delhi government. News channels claimed to have accessed the leaked CAG report. The leaked report highlights significant lapses, policy deviations, and violations in issuing licences.

The policy failed to achieve its intended goals and AAP leaders allegedly benefitted from kickbacks, the report states, as claimed by India Today. The report also reportedly mentions that recommendations by the expert panel were disregarded by the Group of Ministers (GoM) led by the then-Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia.

The policy failed to achieve its intended goals and AAP leaders allegedly benefitted from kickbacks, the report states, as claimed by India Today. The report also reportedly mentions that recommendations by the expert panel were disregarded by the Group of Ministers (GoM) led by the then-Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia.

The liquor policy was introduced in November 2021. The purpose of the policy was to revamp the liquor retail landscape in New Delhi for maximum generation of revenue. But there were allegations of corruption and money laundering. This led to investigations by the ED and the CBI. Several top AAP leaders, including then-Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, were arrested. Last year, they were granted bail last year.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh on Sunday, however, questioned the origins of the CAG report in question.