The Delhi Excise Policy case refers to allegations of corruption in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, which came into force in November 2021 but was scrapped in July 2022. The policy aimed to increase government revenues and end the liquor mafias influence and black marketing. The allegations arose out of a report submitted by Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena in July 2022, pointing to alleged procedural lapses in the formulation of the policy. The report said that "arbitrary and unilateral decisions" taken by former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in his capacity as Excise Minister had resulted in "financial losses to the exchequer" estimated at more than Rs 580 crore. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged that AAP leaders, with a middleman, received kickbacks to the tune of Rs 100 crore from a group of individuals identified as the "South Group," who secured uninhibited access to various wholesale businesses and retail zones in violation of rules.
Manish Sisodia and former Delhi Minister Jitender Singh Tomar were arrested in connection with the case. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was also questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for over nine hours in connection with the case. The CBI recorded Kejriwals statement and will verify and collate it with the evidence collected so far. On October 30, 2023, the Supreme Court rejected Manish Sisodias bail plea in the Delhi excise scam matter and directed him to approach the trial court for relief. The AAP has dismissed all charges and said the investigation is the BJPs attempt to settle political scores.