Here’s everything you need to know about the ‘Delhi excise policy scam’

Saga of summonsNovember 17, 2021: The AAP government implemented a new liquor policy, crafted based on recommendations from an expert committee chaired by the Excise Commissioner.July 8, 2022: Delhi’s chief secretary Naresh Kumar submitted a report to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, outlining alleged irregularities in the implementation of the excise policy for 2021-22.July 22, 2022: Acting on the report, the Delhi LG recommended a CBI inquiry into the formulation and execution of the excise policy and tasked the chief secretary with investigating the involvement of officials.July 30, 2022: Manish Sisodia, Deputy CM, announced the withdrawal of the excise policy, declaring that all private liquor shops would close on August 1, with only government-run outlets permitted to operate.August 17, 2022: Following the L-G’s recommendation, the CBI initiated a case against 15 individuals, including former deputy CM Sisodia, regarding alleged irregularities in the excise policy.August 19, 2022: Sisodia’s premises in Delhi were searched by the CBI, and the Enforcement Directorate also launched a separate money laundering investigation.October 17, 2022: Sisodia underwent eight hours of questioning by the CBI.November 25, 2022: The CBI filed charges against seven individuals.February 26, 2023: Sisodia was arrested by the CBI after extensive questioning.February 28, 2023: The Supreme Court declined Sisodia’s bail plea. Sisodia and his cabinet colleague Satyendar Jain resigned from Arvind Kejriwal’s cabinet.March 9, 2023: ED arrests Sisodia after interrogating him for the second time. He is lodged in Delhi’s Tihar jail.October 4, 2023: ED conducts searches at AAP RS MP Sanjay Singh’s house and took him into custody after questioning him for hours.November 2, 2023: ED issues first summon to CM Arvind Kejriwal. He skips the first summon.December 21, 2023: Kejriwal skips summon for the second time after leaving for an undisclosed location for a 10-day Vipassana meditation course.January 3, 2024: Kejriwal skips summon for the third time.January 18, 2024: Kejriwal skips summon for the fouth time, says he has sent a written response to the agency for his absence.February 2, 2024: Kejriwal skips fifth ED summon, says it’s PM Modi’s plan to arrest Kejriwal.February 19, 2024: Kejriwal skips sixth summon, says matter in court now.February 26, 2024: Kejriwal skips seventh summon.March 4, 2024: Kejriwal skips eighth summon, says ready to face summon virtually.March 21, 2024: Delhi High Court rejects Kejriwal’s plea of protection from coercive action in the case.March 21, 2024: ED reaches CM’s residence with search warrant, arrests him; AAP moves SC challenging the arrestOther highlights–September 2022, AAP communications head Vijay Nair was arrested by the CBI.March 15, 2024: Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha apprehended by the ED.



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