Went to jail, endured taunts and now Kejriwal-Sisodia are acquitted, what is Delhi liquor scam case?

A Delhi court on Friday acquitted Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) president Arvind Kejriwal in the 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 that there were many flaws in the CBI charge sheet which were not supported by the evidence. “There was no broader conspiracy or criminal intention in the excise policy,” the court said. The CBI was investigating alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-canceled liquor policy of the former Aam Aadmi Party government. After being acquitted, Kejriwal started crying. Manish Sisodia, who was handling him, also had tears in his eyes.

See complete timeline of 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 earlier summons of the ED.
  
• December 2023: Kejriwal also ignores the second ED summons, calling it “illegal and politically motivated”.
  
• January 2024: Kejriwal also ignored the third summons of ED, accusing the central government of conspiracy.
  
• January 18, 2024: ED issues fourth summons to Kejriwal to appear for questioning.
  
• February 2, 2024: Kejriwal ignored the ED’s fifth and subsequent sixth summons even as his legal team questioned the validity of the summons.
  
• March 16, 2024: Sessions Court grants bail to Kejriwal on two complaints filed by ED accusing him of not complying with summons.
  
• March 21, 2024: Kejriwal challenges ED summons in Delhi High Court, which refuses to grant him protection from penal action.
  
• March 21, 2024: Kejriwal appeals to the Supreme Court for protection from punitive action.
  
• March 21, 2024: Kejriwal was arrested by ED after he did not appear before nine ED summons.
  
• May 10, 2024: The Supreme Court grants interim bail to Kejriwal till June 1, allowing him to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.
  
• June 1, 2024: Kejriwal applied 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: Delhi court grants regular bail to Kejriwal in the money laundering case.
  
• June 21, 2024: ED appeals to Delhi High Court, which stays Kejriwal’s release.
  
• 26 June 2024: Kejriwal arrested by CBI.
  
• September 5, 2024: The Supreme Court reserved its verdict on Kejriwal’s bail pleas challenging his arrest and denial of bail by the Delhi High Court.
  
• September 13, 2024: The Supreme Court gave its verdict and granted bail to Kejriwal.
  
• January 22, 2026: Delhi court acquits him in two ED cases.
  
• February 27, 2026: Delhi court gives clean chit to Kejriwal.

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