By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
The Denis liquor scandal, involving allegations of favourable distribution policies for the low-cost brand, has come back to haunt former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat, who has now challenged State Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal to order an inquiry into the episode.
Taking aim at Uniyal, Rawat has asked him to explain why Denis liquor allegedly received preferential treatment under the state’s distribution arrangements and why the brand continues to have a strong presence in the market.
Rawat has demanded that Uniyal order an inquiry, including by the Special Task Force (STF) if necessary, into the decisions taken during the period. He has also offered to appear before any inquiry and answer questions on the issue.
The controversy dates back to the excise-policy changes made during the Rawat government. At the time, the BJP had alleged that changes in the liquor policy favoured a few brands and sought a probe into what it called a liquor scam. Rawat had rejected the allegations and defended his policy changes.
In his latest attack, Rawat has revived the issue of the distribution arrangements involving Denis, questioning the alleged expansion of the brand’s access to the state-run liquor distribution network.
According to Rawat, Doon Valley Distillers and Highland Bottlers, associated with Denis, were allegedly given around 20 per cent reserved marketing rights initially, which he claims were subsequently increased to 70–80 per cent for three to four months. He has also alleged that other liquor brands faced restrictions during the period.
Rawat has sought an explanation from Uniyal on why other brands were allegedly prevented from competing on an equal footing while Denis was allowed to expand its reach.
In a pointed political jibe, Rawat has also revived his earlier phrase of “my Denis, your Denis”, seeking to turn the liquor controversy into a political issue ahead of the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections.
The latest exchange comes at a time when Rawat has been stepping up his political activities in the state. His recent outreach yatra has already triggered differences with the Congress high command ahead of the 2027 polls.
Rawat’s latest salvo therefore seeks to put the spotlight back on a liquor-policy controversy that has remained politically contentious since his tenure as chief minister.