Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been granted bail until June 1 in the ongoing case regarding the Delhi government’s liquor policy. The case, which has been a subject of intense scrutiny and debate, has seen several key developments over the past few months. Let’s take a closer look at the timeline of events leading up to this latest development:

October 2023:

The Delhi government, led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, announces a new liquor policy aimed at curbing alcohol consumption in the national capital. The policy includes measures such as reducing the number of liquor shops and imposing stricter regulations on their operations.

November 2023:

Various liquor traders’ associations and businesses file a petition in the Delhi High Court challenging the legality of the government’s liquor policy. They argue that the policy unfairly targets their livelihoods and violates their fundamental rights.

December 2023:

The Delhi High Court begins hearing arguments from both the government and the petitioners. The court expresses concern about the potential impact of the liquor policy on the livelihoods of thousands of people employed in the alcohol industry.

January 2024:

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appears before the Delhi High Court to defend the government’s liquor policy. He emphasizes the need to prioritize public health and safety over commercial interests and argues that the policy is aimed at reducing alcohol consumption and its associated harms.

February 2024:

The Delhi High Court reserves its judgment on the legality of the government’s liquor policy and indicates that a verdict will be delivered soon. However, the court also grants bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other government officials named in the petition until the final judgment is delivered.

May 2024:

With the judgment still pending, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s bail is extended until June 1 to allow for further deliberation and consideration of the case.

As the legal battle over Delhi’s liquor policy continues, stakeholders on all sides await the Delhi High Court’s final verdict, which will have significant implications for the future of alcohol regulation in the national capital.

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Until then, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal remains out on bail, continuing to lead the Delhi government’s efforts to address public health and safety concerns.

The AAP, along with its allies in the INDIA group of Opposition parties, has alleged “misuse” of central probe agencies under the Modi government, labelling the regime as “dictatorial” in its methods. The allegations intensified after Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Kejriwal were arrested in different cases.

Other than Kejriwal, senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha are also lodged in Tihar jail concerning the case.

A timeline of key events in the Delhi liquor policy case:

November 2021: Delhi government introduces new excise policy.

July 2022: Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recommends a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the policy, citing irregularities in its execution.

August 2022: CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) register cases in connection with alleged irregularities.

September 2022: Kejriwal government scraps excise policy amid controversy.

February 2023: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia arrested by the ED on February 26

October 30, 2023: Kejriwal summoned by the ED in the money laundering case for the first time.

December 2023: ED issues two more summonses to Kejriwal for questioning on December 21 and January 3.

January 2023: Two more summonses are sent to Kejriwal by ED. He was asked to appear for interrogation on January 18 and February 2.

October 2023: AAP MP Sanjay Singh arrested in connection with the case on October 4.

February 3, 2024: Probe agency filed complaint against Delhi CM for skipping summons.

February 7: Magistrate’s court summons Kejriwal on ED’s complaint.

February 2024: More ED summons issued to Kejriwal for questioning on February 19, February 26 and March 4.  

March 7, 2024: Magistrate’s court issues summons to Kejriwal on ED’s fresh complaint for evading summonses.

March 15, 2024: Sessions court refuses to stay proceedings against Kejriwal for skipping summons. BRS leader K Kavitha is arrested by the probe agency.

March 16, 2024: Magistrate’s court grants bail to Kejriwal in the ED’s complaints against him for skipping summons after he appears before it.