Delhi Excise Policy Case: A timeline of the events leading up to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's arrest

Arvind Kejriwal's arrest could dent AAP's prospects in Lok Sabha polls

Delhi CM and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal was arrested last night in the Delhi excise policy case. Earlier in the day, Kejriwal sought Supreme Court protection, which was denied.

This marks the first time a sitting Chief Minister has been arrested. The ED has summoned Kejriwal nine times in multiple cases, including the excise policy scam and the Delhi Jal board case. However, Kejriwal had turned down all summons as 'illegal' and 'politically motivated'.

The lawsuit revolves around money laundering and corruption during the formulation of the excise policy by the Delhi government, which was subsequently abandoned. With assets valued at more than Rs 128 crore attached, the ED has so far issued six charge sheets. The charge documents contain several references to Kejriwal, and the agency claims that he was involved in creating the policy for unfair benefits.

Also Read: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal arrested by ED in excise policy case

Here is a complete timeline of the events that occurred:

• November 2021: Under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi government introduces a new excise policy that aims to restructure the city's alcohol distribution and sale. Diverse stakeholders have differing opinions about the program; some applaud its progressive features, while others are concerned about how it would affect public health and revenue.
• July 2022: Delhi's Chief Secretary reports severe policy breach. Based on this, the Delhi Lieutenant Governor requests a CBI investigation into the infringement of rules.
• August 2021: CBI Raids Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Others on Delhi LG's Recommendation, followed by Enforcement Directorate's money laundering probe on liquor policy.
• September 2022: CBI arrests Vijay Nair, the Aam Aadmi Party's Chief of Communications.
•  March 2023: The Enforcement Directorate detains Manish Sisodia, the former deputy chief minister of Delhi.
• October 2023: AAP Leader Sanjay Singh is arrested by the Enforcement Directorate, and the first summons are issued to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the liquor policy fraud.
• November 2023: On November 2, Kejriwal flies to Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh, to address a political rally instead of responding to the ED's first summons.
• December 2023: Kejriwal ignores the second summons, saying it is 'illegal and politically motivated'
• December 2023: The ED sends Kejriwal a third summons to appear for questioning on January 3.
• January 2024: Kejriwal misses the third summons for alleged conspiracy by the Central government. In the same month, the ED issues a fourth summons to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor, asking him to appear for questioning on January 18. Kejriwal responds to the Enforcement Directorate's summons to him, asking the agency why notices were issued. The ED follows up by issuing its fifth summons.
• February 2024: For the fifth time, Kejriwal ignores the Enforcement Directorate's summons. An ED court filing from February said that the AAP politician was not following the summons.

Kejriwal is granted a one-day reprieve from making a personal appearance by a Delhi court in February 2024.

Kejriwal skips the seventh summons in February 2024. AAP stated that they had asked the ED "illegal summon" legal questions and had not heard back.

• March 2024: In response to two allegations from the ED against Kejriwal for allegedly ignoring its summonses in the case, a sessions judge grants him bail.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal files a petition with the Delhi High Court challenging ED summonses. The chief minister has informed the Delhi High Court that he will not appear before the Enforcement Directorate due to a "clear intent" to arrest him during the upcoming elections.

The Delhi High Court refuses to provide Kejriwal any protection from coercive action.

Hours after the High Court's refusal, Kejriwal petitions the Supreme Court for protection against any coercive action by the Enforcement Directorate.

In total, Kejriwal ignored nine summonses issued by the agency for questioning.

ED arrests Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Delhi minister Atishi says that a legal team is traveling to the residence of the Registrar of the Supreme Court to seek "quashing" of the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal.

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