Delhi CM Rekha Gupta tables CAG report; BJP targets AAP over financial mismanagement

New Delhi:  Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta tabled the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on "regulation and supply of liquor in Delhi", in the Assembly on Tuesday.

The report focuses on multiple financial mismanagement claims, with particular emphasis on irregularities in the liquor policy introduced under the leadership of former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

The CAG report revealed substantial revenue losses amounting to Rs 2,026 crore due to irregularities in the AAP government's excise policy. The findings highlight deviations from policy objectives, lack of transparency in pricing, and violations in license issuance that went unpenalized, leading to financial setbacks for the state exchequer.

According to the report, Rs 890 crore of the total losses resulted from the government's failure to re-tender surrendered liquor licenses before the policy period ended. Additionally, Rs 941 crore was lost due to exemptions granted to zonal licenses, which deviated from the standard policy framework.

The BJP alleged that AAP deliberately altered the liquor policy to benefit a select group of individuals, concentrating control of the industry in very few hands. According to the report, Sisodia made key changes that allegedly favored private liquor vendors at the cost of public revenue, leading to accusations of large-scale corruption.

The revelations come amid a heated political battle between BJP and AAP, with the expulsion of 12 AAP MLAs earlier in the day further escalating tensions. BJP leaders, including Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva, claimed the report would provide clear evidence of financial misconduct under Arvind Kejriwal’s government.

Meanwhile, AAP has dismissed the allegations as a politically motivated attack, accusing the BJP of using the CAG report to justify crackdowns on opposition leaders. With 14 reports set to be presented, the political storm in Delhi’s Assembly is far from over, as the BJP hints at further investigations and possible legal action against AAP’s former ministers.

More details awaited...