25 contracts closed, 26 permits 436 issued

During the lockdown period in Haryana, liquor trade was illegal at a broader level. The nationwide lockdown began on March 24 after the March 22 public curfew. Liquor contracts remained open even during lockdown in the state. When many ministers of the Khattar cabinet also opposed it and the issue arose in the media, the government announced the closure of liquor contracts in the state from 12 noon on March 25.

With the announcement of the closure of liquor contracts, the illegal liquor game also started. There was no district in the state where liquor was not sold illegally and at high prices. The Excise and Taxation Department of the state also continued this work of 'Janeswa' during the lockdown. The figures of the department itself show that on the very next day of liquor sale, i.e. on 26 March, the department issued 436 permits simultaneously. Usually, no permits have ever been issued in a day. Sources say that this work was done with complete strategy. It was already realized that the lockdown was going to be long and the Central Government would not approve the opening of liquor contracts under any circumstances. In such a situation, the people doing business of liquor illegally had already made complete arrangements of alcohol.

Jind, Rewari, Rohtak are the main centers

The main focus of the permit issued on 26 March was Jind, Rewari, Rohtak where more than 50 permits were issued. Apart from this, Sonipat, Sirsa, Panipat, Narnaul, Kurukshetra, Karnal and Gurugram etc. are the districts where liquor permits were issued in the wholesale price accepting 100% applications. With this permit, the factory-produced liquor was transported to wholesale shops. In some districts including Rewari, Sonepat, most of the officials issuing this permit are those who hold high positions in the Excise Department and other departments at the headquarters in Chandigarh. Taking advantage of these close ties, this game was played without fear. When the Center approved the opening of liquor contracts in the third phase of lockdown, Haryana got old stock checks in all the districts. Stocks have been found low in most places, but the department is under-reporting.

Department showed generosity in issuing pass

It is not that permits were issued only on 26 March. Nonetheless, liquor permits and passes continued to be issued. This work continued till the end of March. The department also showed great generosity in issuing passes. Excise and Taxation Department is held by Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala. Dushyant says the permit issuance process is online. He says that the excise policy is for the entire financial year. They claim that permits were issued in an automated manner but not a single liquor carriage came out of the distillery or warehouse. The important thing is that when the lockdown was done in the state and everything was closed from liquor contracts to godowns and distilleries, then why the need for a permit. If you look at the figures, on March 26, 471 applications for excise permit came. Of these, 436 were issued permits. Only 11 applications were canceled and 24 were kept pending.

BJP and JJP are not unanimous on the issue of investigation

The liquor scam in the lockdown has become a sore throat of the BJP-JJP coalition government. The opposition is aggressive on this issue. BJP and JJP leaders have different opinions about this investigation. Home Minister Anil Vij is trying to carry out the liquor scam. Other cabinet ministers, including Chief Minister Manohar Lal, are silent on the issue. The liquor scam that made headlines during the lockdown has become a problem for the government. New revelations are happening on the day leading up to the scam. The contradictory statements of Excise Minister Dushyant Chautala and Home Minister Anil Vij on the issue of investigation of alcohol scam have already been made public. Vij created SIT on his own strength but the bureaucracy made it SET while issuing notification. On the other hand, All India Congress Committee spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupendra Singh Hooda and INLD MLA Abhay Chautala are demanding a high-level inquiry into the scam.