Today, On 24th July, The Delhi High Court scheduled a hearing for July 31 to consider BRS leader K Kavitha’s plea challenging her arrest in a CBI case.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court, On Wednesday, scheduled a hearing for July 31 regarding Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha‘s petition challenging her arrest by the CBI in connection with a Delhi excise policy case. The plea also contests the trial court’s decision to remand her to CBI custody.
The case, initially overseen by Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma, reassigned due to a change in the Delhi HC roster. Justice Sharma set the new hearing date before the appropriate bench.
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K Kavitha, in her plea against her CBI arrest, argued that the entire process leading to her detention violates legal principles and fundamental rights under Articles 21 and 22 (1) & (2) of the Constitution. She contends that her arrest and subsequent incarceration lack support from any provisions or procedures in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
Additionally, she mentioned being the mother of two children, one of whom is a minor currently experiencing shock and requiring medical supervision. Kavitha’s plea also alleges political motivations behind her arrest, claiming attempts by members of the ruling party at the Centre to involve her in the scandal. She asserts that there is no evidence of actual cash transactions or money trails, rendering the guilt expressed in her arrest order as unfounded and pretentious.
The CBI’s chargesheet against K Kavitha accuses her of manipulating the Delhi excise policy and participating in the collection and transfer of illicit funds to Goa through hawala channels.
The investigation revealed that her associates, Abhishek Boinpally and PA Ashok Kaushik, involved in transferring illicit money. The CBI also identified Arvind Kumar Singh, the Production Controller-Cum-Commercial Head of India Ahead News, as a conduit in transferring Rs 7.10 crores to Goa through hawala channels, linking him to the accused parties.
On July 22, the Rouse Avenue Court acknowledged the supplementary chargesheet filed by the CBI against BRS leader K Kavitha in the Delhi excise policy case.
Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, upon recognizing the chargesheet, directed that Kavitha be presented before the court via video conferencing on July 26. The court also instructed that a copy of the supplementary chargesheet be provided to Kavitha’s counsel and other relevant parties.
The CBI filed this supplementary chargesheet on June 6, marking it as the third such document in the ongoing Delhi excise policy case. K Kavitha is currently in judicial custody related to both CBI and ED cases. Initially detained by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 15, she subsequently arrested by the CBI on April 11. On July 1, the Delhi High Court rejected her bail petitions in connection with both the CBI and ED cases.
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The ED and CBI accused Kavitha of involvement in irregularities while amending the excise policy, alleging that undue favours granted to license holders. These favours included the waiver or reduction of license fees and the extension of the L-1 license without the necessary approvals. According to the agencies, these beneficiaries diverted illicit gains to the accused officials and manipulated their books of accounts to avoid detection.
One specific allegation highlights that the Excise Department refunded an earnest money deposit of approximately Rs 30 crore to a successful tenderer against established rules. Furthermore, despite the lack of an enabling provision, a waiver on tendered license fees was granted from December 28, 2021, to January 27, 2022, due to COVID-19, allegedly resulting in a loss of Rs 144.36 crore to the exchequer.