The Delhi high court on Tuesday upheld chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest in a money laundering case stemming from the alleged excise scam, saying the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was left with "little option" after he skipped repeated summonses and refused to join the investigation.
It also cited the ED's claim that Kejriwal conspired and was actively involved in use and concealment of the proceeds of crime to reject his petition against his arrest. Arvind Kejriwal will stay in Tihar jail till April 15.
Delhi excise policy case: A timeline of the events that led to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest
November 2021: Under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi government introduces a new excise policy with an aim to restructure the city's alcohol distribution and sale.
July 2022: Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recommends a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi excise policy.
August 2022: CBI and ED register cases in connection with alleged irregularities.
September 2022: Delhi government scraps the excise policy which was formulated by the then excise minister Manish Sisodia.
February 2023: Delhi's former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), followed by the ED in March that year. Sisodia was named a “key conspirator” in the case in the ED chargesheet.
October 2023: AAP leader Sanjay Singh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate, and the probe agency sends first summons to Kejriwal in the money laundering case for appearance on November 2.
December 2023: ED issues two more summonses to Kejriwal for questioning on December 21 and January 3.
January 2024: Two more summonses are sent to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor by ED for January 18 and February 2.
February 2024: ED files complaint against Kejriwal before a magisterial court for skipping the summonses. After this, the magisterial court summons Kejriwal on the basis of the complaint.
February 2024: ED issued summonses for appearance of Kejriwal on February 19, February 26 and March 4.
March 7, 2024: Magisterial court issues summons to Kejriwal on ED’s fresh complaint against him for evading summonses.
March 15, 2024: Sessions court refuses to stay proceedings against Kejriwal for skipping summons.
March 16, 2024: Magisterial court grants bail to Kejriwal in ED’s complaints against him for skipping summons after he appears before it.
March 21, 2024: HC refuses to grant protection from arrest to Kejriwal on his petition challenging the summonses issued to him. ED arrests Kejriwal soon after.
March 23, 2024: Kejriwal moves HC challenging his arrest by ED and the trial court order remanding him in agency’s custody.
April 9, 2024: HC dismisses Kejriwal’s petition against arrest by ED.
(With inputs from PTI)
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