The BJP has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its leader, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, of corruption in relation to the city’s excise policy. BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi cited reports to question if the change in timing of restaurants in Delhi was due to some “commercial deal” involving AAP leaders. Trivedi also referred to reports of a statement made by the secretary of former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia about Kejriwal’s alleged presence in a meeting where a decision to raise commission for liquor contractors was taken. The CBI had previously arrested Sisodia for alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.
The CBI had arrested Mr Sisodia for alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 on February 26, following several rounds of questioning.
It is alleged that the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge strongly refuted by the AAP.
The Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22 has been mired in controversy, with allegations of corruption and favoritism. The CBI arrested former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in February 2023, alleging corruption in the formulation and implementation of the policy. The policy has been scrapped since then. The AAP has strongly refuted the allegations of corruption and stated that the policy was transparent and aimed at increasing the government’s revenue.
