New Delhi, May 16 : In the latest development concerning the Delhi Excise Policy scam, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed its second supplementary charge sheet. The CBI’s investigation has now shed light on alleged irregularities in the Group of Ministers (GoM) meetings related to the case. According to CBI sources, no records or minutes were maintained for the eight to ten GoM meetings held in February prior to the appointment of Excise Commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna in March 2021.
The absence of any documented records raises suspicions of wrongdoing, as it suggests that important information may have been omitted deliberately. Furthermore, the CBI source revealed that after Krishna assumed his position, he was never invited to any GoM meetings. These circumstances strongly indicate that something was amiss regarding the proceedings.
The CBI had initially requested this information from the Excise Department but was not provided with the records. Subsequently, the investigation revealed that no decisions were made during those meetings to incorporate any provisions in the GoM report. Additionally, no discussions were held regarding the wholesale model, nor was there any examination or analysis of the 12% profit margin for wholesalers (L-1 licensees) or the definition of related entities. Moreover, it has come to light that the Excise Department was neither consulted nor provided with a draft of the GoM report.
The CBI has already filed two charge sheets in connection with the case and continues its ongoing investigation into the matter.
