A week after the Delhi government announced its decision to scrap its new liquor policy, the Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday blamed the former Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal for a huge loss under the new liquor policy.

Addressing a press conference today, he said he had written to the CBI to probe ex-LG’s change of stance on the opening of liquor shops in unauthorised areas.

Hitting out at former LG, the Deputy CM called for a CBI probe against LG for his alleged sudden change of mind on opening liquor shops in unauthorised areas that caused a huge loss to Delhi’s Aam Aadmi Party government. Due to a sudden change of decision in LG office, some shopkeepers got profit of thousands of crores and the government lost thousands of crores, he said.

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Anil Baijal was the Delhi LG when the AAP government was preparing for the new excise policy, which was implemented on November 17, 2021.

The cabinet’s policy was earlier cleared by the former LG, but the decision was later revoked. This led to losses worth thousands of crores. Why was this decision taken? Hoping that the CBI carries out a fair probe, Sisodia said.

Sisodia said it should also be probed why Baijal changed his stand that benefited some players and caused financial losses to the government. It should also be probed if the former LG took the decision under pressure and whether any BJP leader had anything to do with it, the Deputy CM said.

As per the new excise policy in May 2021, it was decided that there would be an equal number of liquor shops in every area. Earlier there were up to 20 shops in one place, while none in some others, Sisodia also claimed.

The Excise Policy 2021-22, which was extended twice after March 31 for a period of two months each, had been ended on July 31.

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The Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday accused the BJP of threatening shopkeepers and officers with ED and CBI cases and alleged that the saffron party wanted to close legal liquor shops in Delhi and earn money from illegal outlets.

The Delhi Deputy CM’s remarks came hours after the Delhi government’s decision to return back to the old liquor policy.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Sissodia said the BJP is threatening shopkeepers, officers with ED and CBI, they want legal liquor shops to be closed in Delhi and earn money from illegal shops. So, the government has decided to stop the new liquor policy and ordered to open govt liquor shops, he said.

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The government has withdrawn new excise policy and directed opening government liquor stores. The govt has also directed chief secretary to ensure no chaos during transition period, Sissodia said.

Earlier on Thursday, he had directed the excise department to revert to the old regime of the excise policy for a period of six months till a fresh policy is in place.

Amid ongoing investigation by Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and a faceoff between the Lietuenent Governor and the Delhi government, the Delhi government decided to go back to the old regime of retail liquor sales for six months.

Days after Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena recommend a CBI probe into the implementation of the new excise policy, the Delhi government took the decision to go with the old liquor policy.

Right after Delhi LG’s recommendation of a CBI probe in to the matter, the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had lashed out at the Centre saying that the Lieutenant Governor was making false allegations and AAP leaders were not afraid of jail.

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Delhi government on Monday issued a new liquor policy aimed at boosting the city’s revenue and also crackdown on the liquor mafia. According to the new reforms brought in by the government, alcohol shops will allow a walk-in experience to the customers, promote microbreweries and let bars in hotels, clubs, and restaurants operate till 3 am.

The Excise Policy 2021-22 noted that Delhi is ranked the 28th most visited city in the world and the first in India by foreign visitors. Excise is an important source of revenue for the state, the policy stated.

Under the new system, the government will be out of retail liquor trade, paving the way for the closure of state-run shops and promoting private players in the national capital.

Such retail vends that will be air-conditioned will have glass doors. Customers will not be allowed to crowd outside a vendor in the pavement and buy through the counter, it stated.

“Draught beer shall be allowed to be taken away in bottles or ”growlers”. Microbrewery shall also be allowed to supply to other bars and restaurants that have a license to serve liquor,” the policy document stated.

The new policy states that such establishments can serve liquor in open spaces such as terraces and balconies.

The number of retail liquor vends will be 849 in the city, including five super-premium retail vends that will have a minimum carpet area of 2,500 Sq. Ft

“Super Premium Vends, which will set up a tasting room within the premise, can sell products only above ₹ 200 MRP for beer and above ₹ 1,000 Retail price for all other spirits, including but not limited to Whiskey, Gin, Vodka, Brandy, etc.

“Super Premium Vends will need to stock at least 50 imported (B10) liquor brands including wines (BECRS) etc. brands in the store,” the policy document stated.

Special Excise Adhesive Labels, special inspection teams, a state-of-the-art lab are some of the steps planned by the Delhi government to check tax evasion, the conduct of retail vends, and spurious liquor.

According to the policy, the excise department has introduced Excise Adhesive Labels (EALs) with high-end security features manufactured by Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) to avoid tax evasion and plugging leakages in the supply chain and has also signed an agreement with SPMCIL.

The government has introduced a new license L-38 for banquet halls, party places, farmhouses, motels, wedding/party/event venues with permission to serve Indian and Foreign liquor in all the parties hosted at their premises on payment of a one-time annual fee.

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Until now, such establishments were required to avail temporary licenses in form of P-10, P-10A, P-11 & P-13 for parties and functions organized.

In other India news, the German government on Monday has decided to ease strict restrictions on travel from the UK, India, and three other countries that were imposed because of the rise of the more contagious delta virus variant.

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