New Delhi: Often accused of being soft on liquor barons, the Delhi government once again finds itself in troubled waters after an internal inquiry revealed it issued licences to the ineligible.

The probe led by state finance minister AK Walia also found excise department employees hand in glove with at least a dozen liquor merchants. The Sheila Dikshit government had faced a similar storm last term when it tried to lower the drinking age. After members of the civil society and NGOs protested, she had to backtrack.

According to the latest findings, licences have been issued to department stores that failed the eligibility criteria. The investigating team also found that more than one licence had been issued to a person despite s/he failing to meet the requirements.

"We have found discrepancies in the issuing of liquor licences to department stores. It is suspected that some excise department employees are at fault. We are investigating the matter," Walia said

The probe also revealed that some department stores had been issued at least 10 licences each against the city's rules. The government had floated a plan to allow department stores to sell beer and liquor if they met certain criteria. So far, it has issued licences to at least 104 such stores.

Source : Central