Delhi govt excise policy could lead to monopoly of a few companies, warn major liquor manufacturers

New Delhi, Jan 30: India’s major liquor manufacturers have raised strong objections to the new excise policy recommendations prepared by an expert committee for Delhi Government and warned that it would lead to monopoly of a few companies, mainly MNCs, and will bring in cartelisation besides hitting Delhi government’s revenues. In a joint representation to Delhi Chief Minister Mr Arvind Kejriwal, the four Indian companies — Radico Khaitan Limited, Modi Illva India Pvt Ltd, Alcobrew Distilleries India Pvt Ltd and Jagatjit Industries Ltd have opposed any change in free pricing criteria besides raising red flag over the proposed change in registration of brands, which claimed was “extremely unfair, one-sided and violative of principles of free competition”.
The four major Indian players have said while some of the recommendations of the expert committee are most welcome, a number of key recommendations are “unhealthy and will result in restrictive trade practices, as well as loss to state revenues”. “Indian owned beverage alcohol companies will suffer at the hands of a few Multi-National Companies who operate in Delhi through their domestic subsidiaries,” they said.
The joint representation was signed by Radico Khaitan’s Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Mr Abhishek Khaitan, Jagatjit Industries’ Chief Restructuring Officer Ms Roshini Sanah Jaiswal, Modi Distillery’s Director Mr Abhishek Modi, and Alcobrew Distilleries’ Chairman and Managing Director Mr Romesh Pandita. (UNI)