Today (16th March): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has brought BRS leader K Kavitha before a Delhi court. Kavitha’s appearance follows her arrest from her residence in Hyderabad and subsequent transfer to Delhi for further proceedings.
New Delhi: Today (16 March): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) produced K. Kavitha, a detained BRS leader, before a Delhi court in connection with a money laundering case associated with the now-repealed Delhi excise policy.
Kavitha, a member of the Telangana Legislative Council, appeared before Special Judge M. K. Nagpal, who presided over the matter.
Addressing media personnel while being escorted to court, the BRS leader stated firmly, “We will fight it out in court.
Kavitha was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from her residence in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, and subsequently transferred to Delhi.
The ED requested 10-day custody for Kavitha. Kavitha argued that the ED’s actions on Friday were unlawful, especially considering that Kavitha’s plea for non-coercive measures in this case is currently pending before the Supreme Court, scheduled for hearing on March 19.
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K. Kavitha’s lawyer, though, told the court that this is a “classic case of abuse.”.
Reacting to her arrest, Ms. Kavitha’s brother and former Telangana minister, KT Rama Rao, said in media
“Abuse of power and institutional misuse to settle political scores is something that has become increasingly common with the BJP government in the last 10 years. ED needs to answer the Supreme Court on the inordinate rush to arrest when the matter is very much sub-judice and up for review in a couple of days, on the 19th of March. What’s even more appalling is that the ED is undermining its own undertaking given to the Hon’ble Supreme Court. Justice shall prevail, and we will continue to fight legally.”
Additionally, security measures have been taken around the ED office on A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Road. Additional barricades have been erected, and personnel from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Delhi Police have been deployed to ensure security around the premises.
Kavitha had been questioned three times last year by the ED in connection with this case. Despite summonses issued earlier this year, she did not appear, citing protection from coercive action as per a Supreme Court directive.
According to the ED, Kavitha is allegedly linked to a group of faked liquor traders called “South Group,” who purportedly influence under the now-repealed Delhi excise policy for 2021–22. The CBI claimed that kickbacks amounting to at least Rs 100 crore were received by one of the accused, Vijay Nair, on behalf of AAP leaders from this group, allegedly under the control of Sarath Reddy, Kavitha, and Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy.
During her last interrogation by the ED, Kavitha was reportedly confronted with Arun Ramchandran Pillai, a Hyderabad-based businessman arrested earlier in the case, with whom she allegedly had close ties. Kavitha maintained her innocence, accusing the Center of exploiting the ED for political ends.
The ED has also alleged that Pillai represented Kavitha’s benami investments in the case. Earlier, Kavitha was interrogated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at her Hyderabad residence, and the statement of Butchibabu, an accountant purportedly associated with Kavitha, was recorded by the ED.
According to the ED, Butchibabu stated that there was a political understanding between Kavitha and Delhi’s Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, and then Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Moreover, Kavitha allegedly met Vijay Nair on March 19–20, 2021.
The ED’s allegations regarding the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021–22 have been denied by the AAP, which refutes claims of favoritism or bribery. Subsequently, the policy was annulled, and a CBI investigation was recommended by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, leading the ED to register a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
