Today, the Delhi High Court granted an interim stay on a lower court order that had directed departmental action against a CBI officer involved in the investigation of the Excise Policy case.During the hearing, the High Court stayed the concerned order and paused further proceedings for the time being.
In this context, Delhi’s Education Minister Shri Ashish Sood addressed a press conference at the Delhi Secretariat today and presented facts related to the case.During the press conference, Shri Sood launched a strong attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its leaders over the alleged liquor policy scam and the recent judicial developments linked to it.The Minister said that AAP had started its political journey in the name of fighting corruption, but neither during its 49-day government nor afterward were any serious efforts made to curb corruption. He also mentioned that during a discussion held at the India Islamic Centre on 24 February 2014, the leadership of AAP had avoided addressing the issue.The Minister said that AAP and its leaders should apologise to the people of Delhi.
Shri Sood also pointed out that the Delhi High Court has recently stayed certain observations made by the lower court. Drawing a comparison with cricket, he said that celebrating too early in a match is often referred to as “celebrating too early,” and similarly AAP had prematurely declared itself “Kattar Imaandar”.He added that after the appeal filed by the CBI in the High Court, the court has stayed the remarks made against the investigating agency’s officials. He alleged that AAP leaders attempted to destroy several key pieces of evidence to conceal corruption in the case. It has come to light that 170 mobile phones and 43 SIM cards were destroyed to erase evidence related to the liquor policy case. He further stated that under the old liquor policy, the government earned about ₹329.90 in revenue per bottle, while under the new policy it dropped drastically to around ₹8.32 per bottle. At the same time, the retailers’ margin increased from ₹33.35 to ₹363.27, which had a significant impact on government revenue.
Shri Sood said that due to these reasons the government had to withdraw the policy, yet AAP continued to claim that there was no corruption in the policy.
Shri Sood also said that investigating agencies have questioned hundreds of individuals in connection with the case and recorded several statements.He alleged that AAP has consistently tried to give the issue a political colour and play the “victim card.”
He concluded by saying that AAP must now answer before the people of Delhi why mobile phones and SIM cards were destroyed, why the liquor policy had to be withdrawn, and why there was such a massive decline in government revenue.The Minister added that today marks an important day in Delhi’s political landscape, as the court proceedings are bringing out the reality behind AAP’s claims.
