NEW DELHI: The Delhi Government’s claim that the revenue from excise policy increased to Rs 1484 crores in the first quarter of 2022-23 is nothing but a blatant “lie” as out of total revenue Rs 980 Cr is refundable security deposits,” sources said.
“The revenue earned by the Delhi government through liquor sale has come down by a whopping Rs 567.98 Crores in the last five years contrary to the claim made by AAP leaders that the excise policy would generate optimum revenue and eradicate the sale of spurious liquor,” sources said.
Even the Revenue for the first Quarter of 2022-23 has been artificially inflated to Rs 1594.84 by including the ‘Refundable Security Deposit’ to the tune of Rs 980 Crores, they added.
“The fact is that sale of Whisky increased by about 59.5%, Wine by about 87% and Beer by about 5.5% in 1st quarter of 2022-23 as compared to 1st quarter of 2019-20, but it is observed that there is no increase in revenue during 1st quarter of 2022-23 vis-à-vis1st quarter of 2019-20 pursuant to such increase in sale of liquor,” they added.
Sources further alleged that the claim that the Delhi government collected around Rs 400 Crores in ‘Goods and Services Tax’ in lieu of the sale of liquor in the first quarter of 2022-23 which can be counted as ‘revenue’ is a bogus one. GST is a Constitutional provision and that ‘tax’ cannot be counted under the ‘revenue’ head.
Speaking on the issue a senior opposition leader said “Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s “rhetorical”, “weak” and “lame” defence lacking any substance whatsoever, on the massive mal-practices and scam in the excise policy 2021-22 involving illegal amendments and implementation for subsequent kick-backs received by the AAP government is an exercise of hoodwink the people of Delhi,”
“Only a through CBI investigation into the wrongdoings will unearth the matter. The much-touted claim by AAP leaders that Revenue through the sale of liquor in Delhi has gone up is a white lie. The fact is Revenue has actually gone down,” he said.
“Even as the people of Delhi suffered due to lack of oxygen during the second wave of COVID-19, the self-proclaimed ‘honest government’ allowed a waiver of Rs. 144.36 Crores singularly to the liquor cartel, on the tendered license fee under the excuse of COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has already recommended a probe by the ‘Central Bureau of Investigation’ into its Excise Policy, 2021-22, over alleged violations of rules and procedural lapses.
The CBI inquiry was recommended on Delhi Chief Secretary’s report filed earlier this month, showing prima facie violations of GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR)-1993, Delhi Excise Act-2009 and Delhi Excise Rules-2010, they said.
