Chronology of Events: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s Excise Policy Corruption Case

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 13th Sept.  The Supreme Court of India granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy-linked corruption case on September 13, 2024.

Below is a detailed chronology of the events leading up to this ruling:

November 2021: The Delhi government introduces a new excise policy aimed at reforming the state’s liquor distribution system.

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 excise policy.

August 2022: The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) register cases in connection with the alleged irregularities related to the excise policy.

September 2022: Amid mounting controversy, the Delhi government decides to scrap the excise policy.

October 2023 to March 2024: The ED issues a series of nine summonses to Kejriwal in connection with the money laundering case linked to the excise policy.

March 21, 2024: The Delhi High Court refuses to grant protection from arrest to Kejriwal, who challenges the summonses issued by the ED. Shortly thereafter, Kejriwal is arrested by the ED.

May 10, 2024: The Supreme Court grants Kejriwal interim bail until June 1, allowing him to campaign in the Lok Sabha elections. The Court stipulates that he must surrender and return to jail on June 2.

June 20, 2024: The trial court grants regular bail to Kejriwal.

June 21, 2024: The ED appeals the trial court’s bail order to the Delhi High Court, which issues a notice on the plea and suspends the bail order pending a decision on a stay.

June 25, 2024: The Delhi High Court stays the trial court’s bail order granted to Kejriwal in the money laundering case.

June 26, 2024: The CBI formally arrests Kejriwal from jail in connection with the corruption case linked to the excise policy.

July 12, 2024: The Supreme Court grants interim bail to Kejriwal in the money laundering case. However, he remains in custody for the CBI case.

July 17, 2024: Kejriwal challenges his CBI arrest in the Delhi High Court, arguing it stems from the alleged excise policy scam.

August 5, 2024: The Delhi High Court upholds Kejriwal’s arrest by the CBI in the corruption case.

August 12, 2024: Kejriwal appeals to the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court’s order upholding his arrest.

August 14, 2024: The Supreme Court issues a notice to the CBI regarding Kejriwal’s plea against his arrest in the excise policy scam case.

September 5, 2024: The Supreme Court reserves its order on Kejriwal’s pleas for bail and against his arrest by the CBI.

September 11, 2024: A Delhi court extends Kejriwal’s judicial custody until September 25 in the excise scam case.

September 13, 2024: The Supreme Court grants bail to Kejriwal, ruling that prolonged incarceration amounts to unjust deprivation of liberty.