Delhi liquorgate took an interesting turn on Monday when the BJP shared a “sting operation” video that purportedly showed the father of a liquor scam accused claiming to have paid “commission” to acquire liquor licences in the national Capital, and demanded the removal of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia from the Cabinet.
Addressing a Press conference along with BJP MP Manoj Tiwari and Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra played two videos of sting operations and urged liquor traders in Delhi to not get scared and make videos on how much commission they had to pay to Sisodia and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The BJP leaders also claimed that more such videos will come out in the future.
The video captures the father of a liquor scam accused making admissions about payment of cut money to Sisodia. The BJP leaders claim that the person in camera is Kulwinder Singh Marwah, the father of liquor scam accused Sunny Marwah. Sunny is accused number 13 in the alleged liquor scam. In the video, Kulwinder Marwah is heard saying that a commission of 12 per cent was fixed for liquor suppliers to be eligible for L-1 vendor category. He further claims that out of this, 6 per cent commission was to be given to AAP. Marwah claims liquor vendors were asked to give `10 lakh per month and for this, they were given adequate leverage and flexibility to operate.
Patra said the man in the video is seen “explaining their modus operandi”.
“Manish Sisodia has earned a lot of commission and money because of the (now scrapped excise) policy. We had asked them five questions — why was the older policy, and then the new one, withdrawn; why were suggestions of the (former excise commissioner) Ravi Dhawan committee not followed; why were blacklisted companies given contracts; why were manufacturers given retail contracts in contravention of the policy; and why was the commission (for private players) increased from 2 per cent to 12 per cent, because of which the exchequer faced losses,” Patra said.
He claimed the sting involved a person who handed over money to Sisodia.
“In the video, Kulwinder Marwah (Sunny’s father) is explaining that 80 per cent profit is ours - of contractors, of friends of Kejriwal and Sisodia. The exchequer is getting only 10 per cent, he says. He says he was told that he can sell to whoever he wants, as long as a fixed amount is given,” Patra said, suggesting that this “fixed amount” was going to the AAP leaders.
“The modus operandi as revealed in the video is that 80 per cent of the profit will go to (Chief Minister Arvind) Kejriwal, Sisodia and their friends. First, you give us our 80 per cent commission and then sell the 20 per cent to whoever you can, we do not care. This has been the policy of Kejriwal,” Patra told reporters.
“We asked Kejriwal and Sisodia five questions regarding the new excise policy. However, the questions remain unanswered and therefore, we have come here to expose them through a sting operation,” Patra added. He said it is clear from the sting operation that the AAP Government in Delhi “invited blacklisted companies and gave contracts to them”.
Delhi BJP president Gupta said the sting operation “clearly showed” that the liquor sale increased in the national Capital but the revenue from it decreased drastically.
“If Kejriwal has even a little bit of shame, it is time for him to sack Sisodia,” he said, adding that the Chief Minister sold the dream of transforming Delhi into Singapore, “but made it a hub of corruption”.
BJP MP Tiwari said the sting operation substantiates all the questions that the BJP has been asking the Kejriwal Government over the liquor policy.
Meanwhile, the BJP leaders also took it to twitter and Tejinder Singh Bagga while posting the video wrote, “BIG EXPOSE OF FRAUDIA @ArvindKejriwal DAARU GHOTALA. Sting Operation of Kulwinder Marwah Father of Accused number 13 Sunny Marwah exposing Kejriwal Real Face.”
“Another video exposing Fraudia @ArvindKejriwal Face,” Bagga further tweeted.