Delhi’s alleged liquor scam has not only become a problem for the Arvind Kejriwal government, but the government exchequer is also facing a heavy burden of legal battles. In 2020-21, when the Excise Department of the Delhi government spent nil on lawyers, Rs 25.25 crore was paid to special lawyers between 2021-22 and 2022-23 (till November 30). Most of the payments have been made instead of lobbying in cases related to the liquor scam. Hindustan Times has seen the documents related to the expenditure.
The Delhi government has now cancelled the liquor scam. CBI and ED are engaged in their investigation. According to the documents, senior advocate and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi have been paid Rs 18.97 crore in the last 18 months, while Rahul Mehra has been given Rs 5.30 crore in 28 months.
According to the documents, in 2021-22 and 2022-23, various departments, including Environment, Urban Development, and Social Welfare, spent Rs 28 crore on the legal battle. In this, 25 crore rupees were spent on cases related to liquor scams. The Aam Aadmi Party government has not responded to this at present. Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Rahul Mehra have also been contacted but have not received a response yet.
The Delhi government made a new excise policy in 2021-22. Regarding the new rule implemented on November 17 2021, the BJP opened a front against the Kejriwal government. BJP made allegations of scam. On July 23 2022, LG VK Saxena recommended a CBI inquiry.
Saxena recommended a CBI inquiry on the report filed by Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar. After CBI, ED has also registered a case. Manish Sisodia, the Deputy Chief Minister of the Delhi Government and handling the Excise Department, is also an accused in the liquor scam. However, he is not named in the two chargesheets filed in court. ED has just said that the investigation is going on.
