Gurugram, July 28 -- The district of Gurugram has emerged as Haryana's top contributor to excise revenue this fiscal year, clocking Rs.3,875 crore, nearly 27% of the state's total collections, as the excise and taxation department posted its highest-ever haul of Rs.14,342 crore. The district outpaced larger peers like Faridabad (Rs.1,696 crore), Sonipat (Rs.1,066 crore), Rewari (Rs.654 crore), and Hisar (Rs.615 crore), driven by a surge in liquor retail auctions under the state's revamped excise policy. Officials attributed the excise windfall to the successful auction of all 1,194 excise zones and issuance of 2,388 retail liquor shop licenses across the state. Rural districts too posted strong year-on-year gains-Bhiwani (23.5%), Fatehabad (21%), Hisar (21%), Kurukshetra (20.5%), and Panipat (18%)-indicating a broad-based growth in consumption and licensing. However, the government's celebration of its fiscal success has been tampered by allegations of violations in high-revenue districts like Gurugram. Supreme Court advocate and national president of Adhikaar (The Rights Path), Rajeev Yadav, alleged multiple premium excise zones were awarded at prices far below their reserve value through manipulated rebids. "Liquor zones were allotted well below reserve prices by conducting multiple rebids, with the reserve slashed by 3% each time-violating para 2.16 of the excise policy," Yadav said. Amit Bhatia, deputy excise and taxation officer (East), defended the process. "If there are no bidders, we are allowed to lower the reserve price as per policy. Even at reduced rates, if bids don't come in, we go lower until the zone is picked up," he said....