New Liquor Controversy - Concerns with Delhi's alcohol policy

The development comes a month after Delhi Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena ordered a CBI probe into the alleged violation of the Delhi Liquor Policy 2021-22. For the past week, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and the Center have been at loggerheads over alleged corruption charges against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia under the new liquor policy. Sisodia, who currently holds the excise portfolio, was questioned in this regard on August 19 by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at its headquarters. The development comes a month after Delhi Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena ordered a CBI probe into the alleged violation of the Delhi Liquor Policy 2021-22. The CBI in its First Information Report (FIR) has named Sisodia as the prime accused in the case for taking policy decisions without the approval of the competent authority and giving "after the selection process, improper favors were given to licensees."

Manish Sisodia's home was searched by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday morning. In their FIR, the agency listed him along with 14 other people, including liquor barons. Additionally, the CBI searched the homes of three additional Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members. Currently, the CBI has raided around 31 places on allegations of corruption in the implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy for 2021-2022. After the new liquor policy was introduced in November 2021, the Delhi government completely exited the liquor business, closing down all government-run outlets and the sale of liquor was handed over exclusively to private players. According to the FIR, some L-1 license holders allegedly issue credit notes to retailers with the intention of diverting the funds as an undue financial benefit to government employees.