The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) requested the custodial interrogation of K Kavitha, citing “unsatisfactory answers” regarding inquiries related to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
NEW DELHI: Today(12 April), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) asked for custodial interrogation of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. The CBI claims that Kavitha did not provide satisfactory answers regarding the alleged payment of bribes to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
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The investigation aims to uncover a larger conspiracy involving the formulation and implementation of the Excise Policy, as well as establish the money trail of ill-gotten funds and the involvement of other accused individuals, including public servants.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) while in judicial custody for an Enforcement Directorate (ED) case.
The CBI’s remand application states that
“Ms. Kavitha Kalvakuntla was required to be arrested in the instant case to conduct her custodial interrogation for confronting her with the evidence and witnesses to unearth the larger conspiracy hatched among the accused/suspect persons regarding formulation and implementation of the Excise Policy, as well as to establish the money trail of ill-gotten money generated and to establish the role of other accused/suspect persons including public servants as well as to unearth the facts which are in her exclusive knowledge.”
It is alleged that Kavitha demanded money from a company under the Aurbindo Group, which made a total payment of Rs 14 crore in July 2021. Additionally, Kavitha allegedly requested a payment of Rs 25 crores from Sarath Chandra Reddy for the five retail zones allotted to him.
The CBI also claims that Kavitha threatened Sarath Chandra Reddy when he showed reluctance to make the demanded payment, stating that she would harm his business in Telangana and Delhi under the Excise Policy.
Furthermore, during the investigation, it was revealed that Kavitha asked Arun R Pillai, an associate, not to pay outstanding dues to M/s Indospirits for retail zones, to recoup the upfront payment of Rs 100 crores she had allegedly made to the Aam Aadmi Party through Vijay Nair. However, Pillai stopped contacting Sarath Chandra Reddy after the investigation into the Delhi Excise Policy matter commenced.
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On April 6, Kavitha was examined in Tihar Jail by the CBI in connection with the excise policy case. The CBI had obtained permission from the Delhi Court to examine her during judicial custody. The CBI has now sought permission to interrogate Kavitha regarding WhatsApp chats recovered from Buchi Babu’s phone and documents related to a land deal, which allegedly involved the payment of Rs 100 crores to the Aam Aadmi Party.
Kavitha was previously arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 15, 2024, in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam. The ED’s investigation revealed that she conspired with top leaders of the AAP, including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, to gain favor in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise policy.
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The ED has alleged that Kavitha was involved in paying Rs. 100 crores to AAP leaders in exchange for these favors. According to the ED, a continuous stream of illegal funds in the form of bribes was generated for the AAP through acts of corruption and conspiracy in the Excise Policy formulation and implementation.
