Page 8 - Excise Duty

ED conducts fresh raids at 35 locations in Delhi excise policy case

The ED on Friday launched fresh raids in connection with its money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, official sources said. The searches are being carried out at about 35 locations in Delhi, Punjab and some places in Hyderabad, they said. Some liquor distributors, companies and linked entities are being searched, the sources said. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted more than 103 raids in this case till now and had also arrested Sameer Mahandru, a liquor businessman and managing director of liquor manufacturing company Indospirit last month in the case. The money laundering case stems from a CBI FIR. The liquor scheme came under the scanner after the Delhi LG recommended a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of Delhi's Excise Policy 2021-22. He had also suspended 11 excise officials in the matter.

Delhi govt earns Rs 768 crore revenue in one month under old excise policy

The Delhi government earned a revenue of Rs 768 crore in one month under the old excise policy regime implemented from September 1, officials said on Friday. The government had reverted back to old excise regime from September 1, withdrawing its new policy (2021-22) implemented from November 17, 2021. The Excise Policy 2021-22 was withdrawn by the Delhi government after Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena had in July this year recommended a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in its implementation. "Under the existing policy implemented from September 1, a revenue of Rs 768 crore has been earned including Rs 460 crore as excise duty and an estimated amount of Rs 140 crore as VAT," a senior Delhi government officer said. Under the existing policy, four corporations of Delhi government -- DTTDC, DSIIDC, DSCSC, DCCWS -- have opened retail vends across the city. The September month profit of the four corporations was Rs 40 crore, the officer said. So far, the four corporations have open

Delhi Excise policy case: ED arrests businessman Sameer Mahendru

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested businessman Sameer Mahendru, one of the prime accused in Delhi's excise scam case involving Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia

In fresh attack over excise case, BJP links liquor trader with Kejriwal

The BJP on Tuesday claimed that a person close to AAP leadership was awarded liquor contract under its now-withdrawn excise policy, as it launched a fresh attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the alleged excise row. During a press conference, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia showed a picture of one Karamjeet Singh Lamba with Kejriwal and AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj, and said he was not only a partner in Universal Distributors that was awarded liquor contract but he also contested a local body polls on AAP ticket. Kejriwal should explain why his government distributed "revdi" (freebies) of corruption to people close to him and his party, Bhatia said. He alleged that the Delhi government flouted rules and did not maintain transparency in awarding the liquor contracts. There was no immediate reaction from Lamba. The AAP has asserted that the allegations of corruption in framing the excise policy, now being probed by the CBI, was the BJP's political vendetta as it was rattl

Disclosing end-use of goods must while claiming concessional import duties

Move aimed at enabling tracking of goods to ensure they don't end up in replacement market

Windfall profit taxes are pure economic populism and thus bad policy

Germany's government just became the latest to ingratiate itself with angry voters by promising a windfall tax on energy companies

Delhi govt to open 500 liquor stores as old excise duty policy returns

Under the Excise Policy-2021, Delhi government withdrew itself from the liquor sale business and allowed the issuance of L-1 licences for 849 private retail liquor vendors through open bidding.

What changes can consumers expect in Delhi after change in liquor policy?

From September 1, private liquor vendors in New Delhi and the national capital region (NCR) will shut down their stores and state government will regain control

300 liquor stores, 4 microbreweries: Host of changes for tipplers in Delhi

Delhi is set to return to the old liquor excise policy regime, which includes opening 300 new liquor shops, and four microbreweries in the city

Why states are unwilling to take lessons from Delhi liquor excise saga

The controversy in Delhi reflects the enduring importance of this revenue source for state exchequers

Diesel export falls 11%, petrol 4.5% in July on levy of windfall profit tax

India's diesel exports fell by 11 per cent in July and overseas shipment of petrol dropped by 4.5 per cent after the government slapped a windfall profit tax on such sales, official data showed. Diesel exports dropped to 2.18 million tonnes in July from 2.45 million tonnes a month back, data from the Oil Ministry's Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) showed. Similarly, petrol exports fell to 1.1 million tonnes from 1.16 million tonnes in June. India first imposed windfall profit taxes on July 1, joining a growing number of nations that taxes super normal profits of energy companies. Export duties of Rs 6 per litre were levied on petrol and aviation turbine fuel and Rs 13 a litre on diesel. The duties were partially adjusted in three rounds on July 20, August 2 and August 19, and have now been removed for petrol, with Rs 7 per litre and Rs 2 per litre remaining for diesel and ATF, respectively. The export levies helped ease the strain on domestic fuel supply. The levies wer

Providing HSN code responsibility of bidder, not tendering authority: SC

Apex court says it is the bidders' responsibility to find out the relevant HSN code

AAP ignored excise policy violations, expert committee recommendations: BJP

The BJP on Tuesday stepped up attack on the AAP, claiming its government in Delhi ignored the violations of the excise policy and recommendations of an expert committee. According to the Delhi Excise Policy, producers, retailers and distributors of liquor cannot be the same. Also, there cannot be common directors or shareholders, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said. On October 25, 2021, the Delhi excise department had brought some cases of common producers, retailers and distributors to the notice of the government, but it did not act on it, he claimed. BJP MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma said an expert committee had suggested against promotions to push liquor sales but the Delhi govt started giving a carton free on every carton sold. The committee had suggested to follow the Karnataka model wherein the government is responsible for wholesale business. The panel said no individual can be given more than one license. It had also recommended against opening liquor vends in non-conforming are

SC dismissal of review petition on HSN codes setback for industry

Auto component industry may have to pay up to 15% basic Customs duty and 28% GST

Kejriwal kingpin of excise policy scam, handcuffs getting close to him: BJP

The BJP on Sunday alleged Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is the "kingpin" of the excise policy "scam" and said handcuffs are getting close to him as nodes of corruption are being unravelled. Addressing a press conference here, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged Kejriwal was busy indulging in corruption when Covid-affected people needed his help. Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta, who also addressed the press conference, said, "Delhi's excise policy has proved to be a corrupt one. Arvind Kejriwal is the kingpin of this entire scam." Bhatia said when it was time to help Covid-affected people, Kejriwal was busy indulging in corruption by signing the excise policy. "Roots of the excise policy 'scam' lead to the doorstep of corrupt Kejriwal. No one is above law and no corrupt person will be spared," he said. On the AAP's claim that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be a direct fight between Kejriwal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP spokesperson said everyone k

CBI issues summons to some accused in Delhi excise policy 'corruption' case

The CBI has summoned for questioning on Saturday several accused in the corruption case related to the implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy, officials said. The agency is examining the documents seized during raids at 31 places including the residence of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, the officials said on Saturday. They said once the process of examining the documents and electronic gadgets as well as the bank transactions is completed, summonses will be issued to other accused. The CBI FIR, which was registered before a special court on Wednesday, has also been shared with the Enforcement Directorate, a financial probe agency, which will look into the allegations of money laundering. The agency on Friday carried out searches at 31 places which included premises related to Sisodia as well as some bureaucrats and businessmen. The AAP condemned the raids with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claiming the agency has been "asked from above" to harass its leader

CBI raids Manish Sisodia's house; 'We welcome them', says CM Kejriwal

Sisodia took to Twitter to announce the raid and said he will cooperate with the probe so that the truth comes out soon

Centre planning to further cut windfall tax on crude, diesel: Report

The government is expected to review the new taxes, imposed on July 1, for the third time soon,

Amid robust tax growth, customs and excise duties decline over 10% in Q1

Receipts from customs and excise duties were down 10.59 per cent at Rs 97,695 crore in Q1 of FY'23

Excise duty on petrol was Rs 9.48/ltr, diesel Rs 3.56 in 2014: Minister

Excise duty on petrol was Rs 9.48 per litre and Rs 3.56 on diesel when BJP came to power in 2014 before it rose to a record Rs 32.98 and Rs 31.83, respectively, in May 2020, Parliament was informed