A Delhi court on Friday acquitted Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal in a liquor policy case. The Rouse Avenue court also dismissed the case against senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia and 21 others.
The court said there were several flaws in the CBI's charge sheet which were not supported by evidence. "There was no larger conspiracy or criminal intent in the excise policy.
The CBI was probing alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped liquor policy of the former Aam Aadmi Party government. After being acquitted, Kejriwal started crying. Manish Sisodia, who handled him, also had tears in his eyes.
Check the full timeline of the Delhi liquor scam case
October 2023: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued the first summons to the then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy case.
- November 2, 2023: Kejriwal attended a political rally in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh, ignoring the ED's first summons.
- December 2023: Kejriwal also ignored the second ED summons, calling it "illegal and politically motivated".
- January 2024: Kejriwal also ignored the third summons of the ED, accusing the central government of conspiracy.
- January 18, 2024: The ED issued a fourth summons to Kejriwal to appear for questioning.
- February 2, 2024: Kejriwal also ignored the ED's fifth and subsequent sixth summons, as his legal team questioned the legality of the summons.
- March 16, 2024: The Sessions Court granted bail to Kejriwal on two complaints filed by the ED, accusing him of non-compliance with summons.
- March 21, 2024: Kejriwal challenges the ED's summons in the Delhi High Court, which refused to grant him protection from punitive action.
- March 21, 2024: Kejriwal appeals to the Supreme Court for protection from punitive action.
- March 21, 2024: Kejriwal was arrested by the ED after he failed to appear in nine ED summons.
- May 10, 2024: The Supreme Court granted interim bail to Kejriwal till June 1, allowing him to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.
- June 1, 2024: Kejriwal applies for interim bail in a Delhi court.
- June 2, 2024: Kejriwal surrenders in Tihar Jail as per the order of the Supreme Court.
- June 5, 2024: Delhi court rejects Kejriwal's interim bail plea on medical grounds.
- June 20, 2024: The Delhi court granted regular bail to Kejriwal in the money laundering case.
- June 21, 2024: The ED appeals to the Delhi High Court, which stayed Kejriwal's release.
- June 26, 2024: Kejriwal arrested by CBI.
- September 5, 2024: The Supreme Court reserves its verdict on Kejriwal's bail pleas challenging his arrest and the denial of bail by the Delhi High Court.
- September 13, 2024: The Supreme Court grants bail to Kejriwal, delivering its verdict.
- January 22, 2026: Delhi court acquits him in two ED cases.
- February 27, 2026: Delhi court gives a clean chit to Kejriwal.
