Today, On 3rd June, The Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged that Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha paid Rs 292 crore in bribes to leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for favours related to the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy. Additionally, the ED alleged that Kavitha destroyed evidence by destroying her mobile phone to hinder the investigation.
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged that K Kavitha, a leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party, involved in a conspiracy with members of a group referred to as the ‘South Group’ and leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The ED claims that this conspiracy aimed at paying kickbacks amounting to Rs 292 crore and obtaining undue benefits.
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Additionally, during the course of the investigation, it discovered that Kavitha allegedly destroyed her phone, potentially to eliminate evidence that could link her directly to the alleged bribery.
The phone believed to have contained crucial data, including messages and call logs that could have provided concrete proof of the bribery transactions. The ED’s investigation indicates that Kavitha took deliberate steps to eliminate this evidence, thereby obstructing the course of justice.
The ED arrested Kavitha from her Hyderabad residence on March 15, and she was in judicial custody in the case. The CBI later arrested her in Tihar jail. The central probe agency alleged that Kavitha a key member of the ‘South Group’ that has been accused of paying the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged kickbacks of Rs 100 crore in return for a big share of liquor licences in the national capital, as part of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy for 2021-22.
K. Kavitha previously remanded to judicial custody until April 23, 2024, by the Rouse Avenue Court. The ED’s investigation revealed that Kavitha, along with others, conspired with top leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, to obtain favours in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy. In return for these favors, she allegedly involved in paying Rs. 100 crore to AAP leaders.
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The ED has filed one prosecution complaint and five supplementary complaints in the case. As a result of the investigation, assets worth Rs. 128.79 crore traced and provisionally attached through attachment orders issued on January 24 and July 3, 2023.
The ED’s allegations against K Kavitha brought to light a high-stakes political drama marked by accusations of corruption, money laundering, and obstruction of justice. As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the legal process will impact Kavitha and other involved parties. The case highlights the urgent need for transparency and accountability in Indian politics, emphasizing the critical role of investigative agencies in upholding the rule of law.