AAP leaders should apologise to people of Delhi: Sood

After the Delhi High Court on Monday granted an interim stay on a lower court order that had directed departmental action against a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officer involved in the investigation of the Delhi excise policy case, Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Sood said AAP had started its political journey in the name of fighting corruption, but it made no serious efforts to curb corruption during its 49-day government in 2013-14 and afterwards.

Referring to an event held at India Islamic Centre on February 24, 2014, he said the party’s leadership had avoided addressing the issue of corruption.

He said the latest development in the High Court had opened the path for investigation into the alleged corruption case involving public money in Delhi and that the investigating agencies and courts will eventually deliver their conclusions. The minister also said AAP leaders should apologise to the people of Delhi.

“AAP’s claim of being ‘Kattar Imaandar’ is being exposed,” Sood said.

The minister also pointed out that the HC had stayed certain observations made by the lower court.

Sood alleged that key evidence in the case had been destroyed. “If the liquor policy was correct, why were a large number of mobile phones and SIM cards destroyed?” he asked, adding that it has come to light that 170 mobile phones and 43 SIM cards were destroyed in connection with the case.

Referring to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), the minister said page 99 of the report mentions a potential loss of about Rs 2,202.68 crore to the government.

Sood further claimed that under the old liquor policy, the government earned about Rs 329.90 per bottle, while under the new policy it dropped to around Rs 8.32 per bottle. At the same time, the retailers’ margin increased from Rs 33.35 to Rs 363.27, which, according to him, significantly impacted government revenue.

He said the policy had to be withdrawn due to these reasons. However, the AAP continued to maintain that there was no corruption in it.

The minister said the High Court’s observations indicate that the law will take its course and the investigation will move forward. He also claimed that investigating agencies had questioned hundreds of people and recorded several statements in connection with the case.

Sood alleged that AAP had tried to give the issue a political colour and play the “victim card”.