From Arrest To Interim Bail: A Timeline Of Key Events In Arvind Kejriwal's Arrest

Updated: Friday, July 12, 2024, 15:34 [IST]

Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, has been granted bail by the Supreme Court in a money-laundering case involving the Enforcement Directorate and the Delhi liquor policy. Kejriwal will remain in jail though, as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is still questioning him in a different case.

The ruling was delivered by a bench consisting of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta.
The ED detained Kejriwal, AAP Leader on March 21, 2024 in connection with a money laundering investigation pertaining to the now-scraped Delhi liquor policy case.

Here's a timeline of key events in Arvind Kejriwal's arrest:

November 2021: Delhi introduces new excise policy
July 2022: CBI probe recommended into policy irregularities
August 2022: CBI and ED register cases
October 30, 2023: ED sends first summons to Kejriwal
October 2023 - March 2024: Kejriwal skips multiple ED summons
March 21, 2024: ED arrests Kejriwal
April 9, 2024: Delhi HC dismisses Kejriwal's petition against arrest
April 10, 2024: Kejriwal moves SC challenging HC order
May 10, 2024: SC grants interim bail to Kejriwal till June 1
June 1, 2024: Kejriwal surrenders and returns to Tihar Jail
June 5, 2024: Court denies interim bail on medical grounds
June 20, 2024: Delhi court grants regular bail to Kejriwal
June 21, 2024: ED moves Delhi HC opposing bail; HC blocks Kejriwal's release
June 26, 2024: CBI arrests Kejriwal in corruption case related to excise policy
July 12: Supreme Court grants interim bail to Kejriwal in ED's money laundering case

What is Delhi Excise Policy Case

The goal of the November 2021 introduction of the New Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 was to completely transform the retail liquor scene in the capital. Its goals were to increase state revenue, stop the selling of fake alcohol and improve customer satisfaction. But strong opposition to the policy and claims of anomalies in the process finally resulted in its annulment on August 1st, 2022.

The policy's revision that removed the state government's direct involvement in liquor retail was one of its main features. It envisaged an increase in the number of liquor retailers to provide customers with a wider selection of brands, along with a focus on fostering a more welcoming and secure retail space.