Delhi liquor scam: Congress demands expanding scope of investigation

New Delhi: Congress has demanded expanding the scope of investigation into the Delhi liquor scam following the revelations made in the CAG report.

The CAG report was tabled in the Delhi Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday. Addressing a press conference at the AICC office here today, Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav and senior leader Sandeep Dikshit said that the Public Accounts Committee should expand the scope of investigation following the CAG report.

They said the PAC should be formed as soon as possible, and those involved in the loot should be punished. They added that the details of the CAG report must also be brought into public discourse.

While welcoming the tabling of the CAG report on the Delhi Excise Scam, Yadav and Dikshit said that the Congress stands vindicated since it had lodged the formal complaint against the liquor policy.

The Congress leaders demanded that the names of certain BJP leaders, which were brought to the notice of the Commissioner of Police by the Congress leaders at the time of the implementation of the policy, must also be investigated.

Suggesting that the AAP and the BJP acted in collusion in ensuring the implementation of the excise policy, which was later withdrawn, they pointed out that the policy was approved by the then Lieutenant Governor.

They also referred to the permission granted for opening the liquor vends in the non-confirming wards. They said the permission to open the liquor vends is granted by the municipal corporation. They pointed out that it was the BJP that was in power in municipal corporations that time, and which granted permission for opening the vends. They said it raises important questions that need to be answered.

The Congress leaders also noted how particular liquor brands were promoted and encouraged by the AAP government. Alleging a clear nexus between the AAP leaders and some liquor producers from Punjab, they said these liquor brands had a connection with Punjab, where AAP was in power, and its leaders had a clear association with the producers of those brands.

Congress demanded that the scope of the investigation must be expanded, and it should be found out who decided to change three excise directors within one year and why. They also demanded that it must be probed whether those contractors who got undue benefits had bribed the BJP and the AAP leaders by way of purchasing the electoral bonds. They specifically referred to the September 5, 2022, complaint submitted by the Congress, demanding a probe against certain BJP leaders involved in the excise scam.