Delhi liquor scam and Arvind Kejriwal
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal got a big relief from the Supreme Court on Friday in the Delhi Excise Policy scam case. The court granted him bail on a bond of Rs 10 lakh and two sureties. Aam Aadmi Party convenor Kejriwal was first summoned for questioning in the matter in October last year, followed by several summonses. He was finally arrested in March.
There were many ups and downs in matters related to excise policy. The Supreme Court released Kejriwal on bail to campaign during the Lok Sabha elections. His release was constantly opposed by the investigating agency, but he was granted bail by the country’s highest court.
Regarding the famous excise policy of Delhi timeline Let’s have a look…
- November 2021- AAP government in Delhi brings new excise policy.
- July 2022- LG VK Saxena recommends a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in policy formulation and implementation.
- August 2022- Both CBI and ED registered a case in this matter.
- September 2022- Delhi government cancels excise policy.
- October 30, 2023- ED sends first summons to CM Kejriwal in money laundering case
- November 2, 2023- CM Kejriwal did not appear before ED. However, he reached Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh to address an election rally.
- December, 2023- ED sends 2 more summons to Kejriwal. He was summoned for questioning on December 21 and January 3. But this time also he did not appear.
- January, 2024- ED summons Kejriwal again. Asked to appear on January 18 and February 2.
- February 3, 2024- ED goes to magisterial court against Kejriwal.
- February 7, 2024- Magisterial court summons Kejriwal on ED complaint.
- February, 2024- Investigation agency ED again sent summons to Delhi CM on February 19, February 26 and March 4.
- February, 2024- Delhi court exempts Kejriwal from personal appearance.
- February, 2024- Kejriwal did not appear on ED’s seventh summons. AAP claimed that the matter is before the court and the ED will have to reply to the court on the validity of the summons.
- March 7, 2024- Magisterial court summons Kejriwal again on ED’s complaint.
- March, 2024- Kejriwal moves the Delhi High Court against the ED summons and says he will not appear before the ED as there is a ‘clear intention’ to arrest him.
- March 21, 2024 – Delhi High Court denies Kejriwal any protection from criminal proceedings. He reached the Supreme Court.
- March 21, 2024- ED arrests CM Kejriwal. Kejriwal challenged the arrest in the Delhi High Court.
- April 9, 2024- The High Court rejected Kejriwal’s petition.
- April 10, 2024- CM Kejriwal challenges the arrest in the Supreme Court.
- April 15, 2024- The Supreme Court asked the ED to respond by April 24 in the case.
- April 24, 2024- ED tells the court that a money laundering case is pending against Kejriwal.
- April 29, 2024- The Supreme Court questions Kejriwal’s non-appearance before the ED despite repeated summons to record his statement and asks whether he can challenge his arrest on the grounds of not recording his statement.
- May 10, 2024- Supreme Court grants interim bail to Kejriwal till June 1 for election campaign.
- June 1, 2024- CM Kejriwal surrenders and then reaches Tihar Jail.
- June 5, 2024- On Kejriwal’s plea, the court reserved the order till June 5. Later, his bail application was rejected.
- June 20, 2024- Delhi court grants bail to Kejriwal.
- June 21, 2024- ED opposes Kejriwal’s bail and moves to High Court. The High Court stayed Kejriwal’s bail.
- June 26, 2024- CBI arrests Kejriwal in corruption case.
- September 5: The Supreme Court reserved its verdict on the bail pleas relating to Kejriwal’s arrest and the Delhi High Court’s decision to deny him bail.
- September 13- After a long hearing, the Supreme Court granted bail to Kejriwal with an order to deposit a bond of Rs 10 lakh.
