Vijender Gupta, Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, has forwarded the Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) report on the Excise Policy to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), demanding a final report within three months. Gupta stated that the CAG’s audit revealed significant irregularities in the implementation of the excise policy from 2017-2021, indicating that private firms profited illegally at the government’s expense. He emphasized the need for swift examination by the PAC to ensure accountability. The report also highlighted issues with license awards and regulatory controls. Delhi Assembly’s session will continue until March 1 for further discussions.
New Delhi:
Vijender Gupta, Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, has chosen to refer the Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) report regarding the Excise Policy to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and has requested a final report within three months.
In his remarks, Mr. Gupta stated that the CAG’s ‘Performance Audit Report on Regulation and Supply of Liquor in Delhi’ has revealed serious irregularities in how the Aam Aadmi Government implemented the excise policy in Delhi.
“The report outlines in detail how significant losses were incurred by the public treasury to allow private firms to profit unlawfully at the Government’s expense,” he noted.
“The audit covered the period from 2017 to 2021 and highlighted several glaring irregularities prior to the new excise policy’s implementation, such as violations in license awards, insufficient quality control, and weak regulatory oversight,” he added.
Moreover, the Speaker expressed confidence that there is a consensus within the House that the issue must be addressed swiftly to ensure that anyone found guilty is held accountable.
“In accordance with established parliamentary procedure, the report will undergo a thorough examination by the Public Accounts Committee of the Delhi Assembly, which is expected to present its findings within three months. As an initial step, I have instructed the Assembly Secretariat to promptly forward the report to the relevant Departments. The Excise Department is required to submit its para-wise comments and Action Taken Notes within one month,” Vijender Gupta stated.
On Tuesday, CM Rekha Gupta presented the CAG report concerning the Delhi Excise Policy.
The ‘Performance Audit on Regulation and Supply of Liquor in Delhi’ spans four years, from 2017-18 to 2020-21, and assesses the regulation and supply of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and Foreign Liquor in Delhi.
It is noteworthy that the Delhi Assembly session has been extended by two days until March 1.
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