Liquor Law

Excise scam: Delhi court extends AAP leader Sisodia's custody till July 22

A Delhi court on Monday extended the judicial custody of AAP leader and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in a corruption case related to the alleged excise policy scam. Special judge for CBI and ED Kaveri Baweja extended the custody of Sisodia till July 22 after he was produced before the court through video conference on the expiry of his judicial custody. The court on April 30 dismissed the bail pleas of Sisodia in corruption and money laundering cases lodged by the CBI and the ED in relation to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. The court had reserved the order after hearing arguments from the CBI and ED as well as the counsel appearing for Sisodia.

Delhi maintains revenue surplus despite dent in liquor taxes since 2022-23

The new excise policy, introduced in Delhi in November 2021, made sweeping changes to the city's liquor trade

Gujarat govt issues guidelines for liquor law exemption rules in GIFT City

The rules further state that Recommending Officers will have to prepare a list of employees desiring to get LAP and send the list to the Authorised Officer

Alcoholic beverages exports to cross $1 bn in next few years: Report

The country's alcoholic beverages exports are expected to cross USD 1 billion in the next few years on account of increasing demand for spirits in global markets, a senior government official said on Thursday. As against the exports of USD 325 million in 2022-23, the outbound shipments from the sector touched USD 230 million during April-October this fiscal, Additional Secretary in the commerce ministry Rajesh Agrawal told reporters here. The global trade of these products is about USD 130 billion. "The demand for Indian spirits is increasing...It is expected to go beyond USD 1 billion in the next few years. Indian beverages market is growing very fast and slowly demand for these brands across the world is also picking up," Agrawal said, adding that in the forthcoming three-day Indus Food show in Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh), there will be a wine and spirits section. Over 2,500 global buyers, 5,000 domestic buyers and 86 retail chains would be participating in the show apart from

Delhi excise 'scam': AAP leader Sanjay Singh moves court seeking bail

AAP leader Sanjay Singh, arrested in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise scam, on Friday moved a court here seeking bail, his lawyer said. The application was filed in the Rouse Avenue Court's registry and is likely to come up for hearing on Saturday, advocate Mohd Irshad said. Special Judge M K Nagpal, meanwhile, extended Singh's judicial custody till December 4. The judge also noted the submission of the investigating officer that the charge sheet against the accused is likely to be filed shortly and within prescribed time.

Court extends judicial custody of AAP leader Sanjay Singh till Nov 24

A Delhi court on Friday extended till November 24 the judicial custody of AAP leader Sanjay Singh, arrested in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise scam. Special Judge M K Nagpal also allowed Singh to sign some documents related to development work as a Member of Parliament. The judge also directed the authorities concerned to produce him before a court in Punjab after it was informed that a production warrant had been received from a court in Amritsar, Punjab, in a case there. The anti-money laundering agency had arrested Singh on October 4. The ED has alleged that Singh played a key role in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped excise policy, which benefited certain liquor manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.

Such massive scam can't take place without Kejriwal's approval: BJP

The BJP on Tuesday sharpened its attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the excise policy case, claiming that such a "massive scam" could not have taken place with his clear approval. "Jai karni waisi bharni (you reap what you sow)," BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad told a press conference, a day after the Enforcement Directorate summoned Kejriwal on November 2 for questioning in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam. Dismissing the AAP's allegations that the Central government was trying to finish it off, he said it was the Kejriwal-led party which was finishing itself off with its "misdeeds, corruption and scams". Prasad claimed the BJP has nothing to do with central probe agencies' action against the AAP and that the legal process was following its own course in the matter. "What agencies do is none of our concern. It is for them to decide." He rhetorically asked did the BJP tell them to frame such an excise policy that "gives them commissio

AAP claims BJP wants to finish party, after Kejriwal summoned by ED

Atishi alleged political rivalry the reason behind arrests made by central agencies in the Delhi Excise Policy scam

Restaurant owners urge Maha govt to rollback 5% hike in VAT on liquor

The Hotel And Restaurant Association (Western India) - HRAWI, on Wednesday urged the Maharashtra government to roll back the 5 per cent increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) on liquor served at bars and restaurants across the state. On October 22, the Maharashtra government raised VAT for permit room liquor service by 5 per cent, resulting in a new total rate of 10 per cent, according to the state government notification. HRAWI in a representation submitted to the chief minister Eknath Shinde, deputy chief minister and finance minister Ajit Pawar, and tourism minister Girish Mahajan requested the rollback of the 5 per cent increase in VAT on liquor served at bars and restaurants across the state. Expressing concern and surprise at the unexpected increase in VAT on liquor, HRAWI has stated that the significant hike in taxes will have adverse effects on the hospitality industry, particularly on restaurants and bars and subsequently impact the state's tourism sector. "Tourism is a vital .

Excise policy: AAP protests near BJP headquarters against Singh's arrest

The Aam Aadmi Party workers on Friday protested near BJP headquarters here against the arrest of senior leader Sanjay Singh in a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the scrapped Delhi excise policy. Raising slogans against the party, the AAP workers tried to proceed towards BJP headquarters on DDU Marg but the police and paramilitary personnel stopped them. The protest came hours after the Delhi High Court agreed to list during the day a plea by Singh against his arrest. The matter was mentioned for urgent hearing by a lawyer for the Rajya Sabha MP before a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula. Singh's lawyer said proper grounds of arrest were not provided to him. On October 10, a trial court remanded Singh, arrested earlier this month, to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate till October 13. The ED's money laundering case stems from the CBI FIR. According to the CBI and the ED, irregularities were committed while .

Sanjay Singh moves Delhi HC against arrest in money laundering case

The Delhi High Court on Friday agreed to list during the day a plea by AAP leader Sanjay Singh against his arrest in a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the scrapped Delhi excise policy. The matter was mentioned for urgent hearing by a lawyer for the Rajya Sabha MP before a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula. Singh's lawyer said proper grounds of arrest were not provided to him. Alright, the court said. On October 10, a trial court had remanded Singh, arrested earlier this month, to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate till October 13. The ED's money laundering case stems from the CBI FIR. According to the CBI and the ED, irregularities were committed while modifying the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 and undue favours were extended to licence holders. The Delhi government had implemented the excise policy on November 17, 2021, but scrapped it at the end of September 2022 amid allegations of corruption.

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GST Council likely to exempt distilled alcohol used to make liquor from tax

However, states adopt different practices while imposing GST on extra neutral alcohol, which is key input used to produce liquor

Dry day today on Gandhi Jayanti: All you need to know about dry days

Dry day refers to the prohibition on the sale of alcohol. Since the sale of liquor is a state subject, the laws around prohibition differ across the country

ED tells SC it will not summon Kavitha in Delhi excise case till Nov 20

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that the probe agency will not summon BRS leader K Kavitha in the Delhi excise policy case till the court hears her plea on November 20. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia told Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate, "Don't call her in the meantime." Raju assured the bench that Kavitha will not be called for questioning till November 20. The bench posted Kavitha's plea, in which she has challenged the summons issued by the agency on November 20, and said in matters where interim orders of protection are issued will be extended. On September 15, the ED had told the apex court that the summons issued to Kavitha for her appearance before the agency will be extended by 10 days. The ED had issued the summons dated September 4 to Kavitha, the daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, seeking her appearance at the agency's Delhi office on Septemb

Delhi excise policy scam: Court denies 'default bail' to Vijay Nair

A Delhi court on Thursday dismissed an application of former AAP communications in-charge Vijay Nair seeking 'default bail' in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. Special Judge M K Nagpal denied the relief to the accused, saying that the issue was already dealt with by the Delhi High Court, which had dismissed Nair's application for grant of regular bail sought on the ground that the Enforcement Directorate had field a "piecemeal or incomplete prosecution complaint" (ED's equivalent to a charge sheet) regarding him. In view of the above...it is held that this court is not competent or the appropriate forum to consider the above point or ground for default bail of the accused and the appropriate course available to the accused is to approach the same Judge or Bench of the High Court with a request for consideration of the said point or ground... With the above observations and findings, the present application filed by accused Vijay Nair is being .

Delhi liquor case: ED, CBI responses sought on Sisodia's interim bail pleas

The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses of the CBI and the ED by July 28 on interim bail pleas of AAP leader Manish Sisodia in the Delhi excise policy case. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Bela M Trivedi and Ujjal Bhuyan took into consideration the submission of senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Sisodia, that his wife is suffering from an extreme medical condition and is hospitalised. The bench said it will consider the interim bail application and for that it is seeking response of the CBI and the ED. At the outset, the bench said that normally the court does not interfere with policy decisions but here is a case of making of policy for extraneous reasons. Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the CBI and the ED, said interim bail application was also rejected by the trial court. The bench, however, asked Raju to file response on behalf of investigating agencies. On July 10, a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud had agreed to hear t

Excise policy: Delhi HC denies bail to Vijay Nair in money laundering case

The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to grant bail to Aam Aadmi Party's communication in-charge Vijay Nair in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, noting that the statements of witnesses showed kickbacks claimed to have been paid by the potential beneficiaries were used in the Goa assembly elections. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, by separate orders, also dismissed the bail applications of former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, businessman Abhishek Boinpally and liquor giant Pernod Ricard's executive Benoy Babu in the case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The court said while personal liberty is a "sacrosanct right and pre-trial detention cannot be taken as a punitive measure", such right has to be balanced with the right of the society at large. The judge, in his 45-page order passed on the bail plea by Nair, observed that the allegations are "extremely serious in nature" and the alleged conspiracy in the present case was .

Delhi excise policy scam: Manish Sisodia's interim bail plea refused

The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to grant interim bail to AAP leader Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case arising from the alleged excise policy scam. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, however, allowed him to meet his ailing wife in custody for one day as per her convenience between 10 am and 5 pm. The former Delhi deputy chief minister had sought release on a temporary basis for six weeks on grounds that he was the sole caretaker of his ailing wife. His plea for regular bail in the matter is pending before the high court. Sisodia, who was arrested on March 9, is currently in judicial custody in the case lodged by the ED. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had opposed the plea for interim bail on grounds of possibility of evidence tampering. The ED lawyer has also claimed that Sisodia's wife has been suffering from such a medical condition for the last 20 years. The Delhi government implemented the policy on November 17, 2021 but scrapped it at the end of September 2022 amid

Delhi Excise Policy scam: Manish Sisodia used 43 SIM cards, says ED

The ED sources said that Sisodia had been using an iPhone 13 Max Pro for 11 months, but destroyed it soon after the L-G's order