New Delhi, March 9 (NationPress) Describing it as a blow to Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood announced on Monday that the Delhi High Court has issued an interim stay on a lower court's directive for departmental action against a CBI officer connected to the investigation of the now-repealed Delhi Excise Policy case.

During the court's proceedings, the High Court suspended the contentious order and halted all further actions for the moment.

Sood launched a scathing critique of the AAP and its leaders regarding the alleged liquor policy fraud and the recent judicial events surrounding it.

The Minister asserted that the AAP had initiated its political journey under the banner of anti-corruption, yet neither during its brief 49-day rule nor thereafter were any substantial measures taken to combat corruption.

He highlighted that in a discussion at the India Islamic Centre in February 2014, AAP's leadership had sidestepped the corruption issue.

According to Sood, the pathway to investigate a significant corruption case involving public funds in Delhi has now been cleared, and he anticipates that the investigating agencies along with the courts will soon reach their conclusions.

The Minister insisted that the AAP and its leaders owe the people of Delhi an apology.

He further noted that the High Court has recently suspended certain remarks made by the lower court.

Using a cricket analogy, he remarked that celebrating too soon in a match is often termed as “celebrating too early,” drawing a parallel to how AAP prematurely labeled itself as “Kattar Imaandar.”

Following the CBI's appeal to the High Court, the court has also stayed the comments directed at the officials of the investigative agency.

He accused AAP leaders of attempting to obliterate critical evidence to hide corruption in the case, revealing that 170 mobile phones and 43 SIM cards were destroyed to eliminate evidence related to the liquor policy scandal.

The Minister also referred to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India’s report, which cites a potential loss of approximately Rs 2,202.68 crore to the government on Page 99.

Sood explained that under the previous liquor policy, the government generated about Rs 329.90 in revenue per bottle, while under the new policy, this plummeted to approximately Rs 8.32 per bottle. Meanwhile, the retailers’ profit margin surged from Rs 33.35 to Rs 363.27, significantly impacting government revenue.

He stated that these factors necessitated the withdrawal of the policy, yet AAP continued to assert that no corruption existed within it.

According to Sood, the High Court’s observations on Monday underscore that the law will prevail, and the investigation will proceed.

He added that while AAP has continually portrayed itself as “Kattar Imaandar,” the reality is gradually surfacing.

Sood mentioned that investigative agencies have interrogated hundreds of individuals linked to the case and documented numerous statements.

He claimed that AAP has persistently attempted to politicize the situation and played the “victim card.”

The Minister urged AAP to clarify to the people of Delhi why mobile phones and SIM cards were destroyed, why the liquor policy was revoked, and why there has been such a significant drop in government revenue.

He concluded that Monday stands as a pivotal day in Delhi’s political arena, as the court proceedings unveil the truth behind AAP’s assertions.