CBI) on Monday registered a case against ED Assistant Director Pawan Khatri, liquor trader Amandeep Dhall and CEO of Claridges hotel, and others accused in connection with the Delhi liquor scam case.
The FIR has been registered under criminal conspiracy, an offense relating to a public servant being bribed, taking undue advantage to influence a public servant by corrupt or illegal means, or by exercising personal influence, an offense relating to the bribe of a public servant.
How the alleged scam came into light
In July last year, Lieutenant governor VK Saxena had recommended a CBI investigation into Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 after a report by Delhi chief secretary established prima facie violations of various acts and rules in addition to “deliberate and gross procedural lapses” to provide “undue benefits” to liquor licensees. The excise department is headed by Sisodia.
The LG reportedly found substantive indications of “financial quid pro quo” at the top political level.
Sisodia was accused of undue financial favours to the liquor licensees much after the tenders had been awarded and thus caused huge losses to the exchequer.
Citing sources in the government, a TOI report said the Excise Department allowed a waiver of Rs 144.36 crore singularly to the liquor cartel on the tendered license fee under the excuse of Covid-19 pandemic. The department also refunded earnest money of Rs 30 crore to the lowest bidder of the licence of Airport Zone, when it failed to obtain NOC from the airport authorities.
Another allegation was that the excise department in its 8 November 2021 order revised the formula of the calculation of rates of foreign liquor and removed the levy of import pass fee of Rs 50 per case on beer without