Debate With Arnab: Has CAG Report Blown The Lid Off Kejriwal's Scams?

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has revealed major financial irregularities in the Kejriwal government's dealings, uncovering inflated costs, diverted funds, and arbitrary approvals in the "Palace Scam." Additionally, reports on the "Liquor Gate" and "Palace Scam" have come to light, fueling intense debates over the corruption allegations against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. These revelations have sparked widespread controversy and discussions on the scale of the scams under his administration. The newly-elected Chief Minister of Delhi, Rekha Gupta, on the second day of the Legislative Assembly Session, tabled the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Report on the Delhi Excise Policy. The CAG Report highlights explosive findings on Delhi ‘Liquorgate’. The report regarding the purported liquor scam, a contentious issue ahead of the elections, indicated a revenue loss of Rs 941.53 crore. The report noted that the necessary approvals for opening liquor stores in “non-conforming municipal wards” were not secured promptly. According to the report, which was presented by the chief minister, the excise department incurred a loss of around Rs 890.15 crore due to lost license fees from these areas, attributed to the surrender of licenses and the department's failure to re-tender them. Additionally, as per PTI, there was an estimated revenue loss of Rs 144 crore resulting from the "irregular waiver" granted to license holders due to closures linked to the Covid pandemic, the report stated.