Delhi Liquor Scam: From Implementing New Excise Policy To Sisodia In Jail; Here’s Complete Timeline
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Manish Sisodia, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, on February 26, in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case. The case revolves around alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the liquor policy by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi.
Sisodia, who is a senior leader of the AAP and a popular figure in Delhi due to his work on improving the education system, was questioned by the CBI for nearly 8 hours before his arrest. The CBI had named him as one of the accused in the case along with 14 others.
The events leading up to Sisodia’s arrest and subsequent resignation from his Cabinet positions are as follows:
On November 17, 2021, the AAP government in Delhi implemented the Excise Policy for the year 2021-22. However, on July 31, 2022, the policy came under scanner for alleged irregularities, which prompted the Delhi government to scrap it.
On August 17, 2022, the CBI registered a case in connection with the alleged irregularities in the implementation and formulation of the Delhi Excise Policy. The agency named 15 accused, including Sisodia.
Two days later, on August 19, the CBI conducted a search at Sisodia’s premises in Delhi. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) also registered a separate money laundering case, stemming from the FIR filed by the CBI.
On October 17, 2022, the CBI questioned Sisodia for the first time, and the questioning continued for eight hours. On November 25, 2022, the agency filed a charge sheet against seven accused in the case.
The court took cognizance of the charge sheet on December 15, 2022. On February 18, 2023, Sisodia was summoned by the CBI for a second time, which led to his arrest on February 26, 2023.
On February 27, 2023, a special court granted the CBI five-day custody of Sisodia to further question him. The next day, Sisodia moved the Supreme Court seeking bail, but the court refused to entertain his plea.
Later that evening, Sisodia stepped down as the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi and from his Cabinet portfolios, citing his desire to focus on defending himself against the allegations. His resignation was a blow to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who lost his topmost minister in the government.
On March 06, 2023: Sisodia’s CBI remand ended; he was sent to judicial custody till March 20 by the court.
