The Rouse Avenue Court Today (April 9th) extended the judicial custody of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha till April 23, 2024, in relation to the excise policy money laundering case.
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NEW DELHI: The Rouse Avenue Court today extended the judicial custody of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Member of Legislative Council (MLC) K Kavitha until April 23, 2024. This extension comes in the wake of allegations surrounding the excise policy money laundering case.
The Special Judge, Kaveri Baweja, acceded to the request of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), predicated on assertions that Kavitha had endeavored to influence witnesses and tamper with evidence. Advocate Nitesh Rana, representing Kavitha, countered the ED’s plea, arguing that the basis for the continued detention lacked new evidence or allegations since her initial arrest.
In a parallel development, the court declined Kavitha’s request to make personal or oral submissions, instead directing that any statements from her should be furnished in writing. The courtroom saw the representation of the ED by Advocates Zoheb Hossain, Naveen Kumar Matta, and Simon Benjamin, whereas Advocates Nitesh Rana, Deepak Rana, and Mohit Rao appeared on behalf of the accused, Kavitha.
Adding another layer to this complex legal battle, the court previously permitted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to interrogate Kavitha within the confines of Tihar Jail. This inquiry is focused on scrutinizing WhatsApp conversations retrieved from Buchi Babu’s mobile device and documents related to a land transaction, allegedly connecting a payment of 100 crores to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as kickbacks.
Kavitha’s arrest by the ED on March 15, 2024, stemmed from her purported involvement in the Delhi Liquor Policy Scandal. An ED statement highlighted obstruction by Kavitha’s relatives and associates during a search at her Hyderabad residence on the day of her arrest. The investigation implicates Kavitha and her compatriots in a scheme with AAP’s senior leadership, including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, aiming to secure favorable outcomes in the development and execution of the Delhi Excise policy. In return, it’s alleged that Kavitha facilitated a 100 crore rupee payment to AAP leadership.
The narrative of corruption and conspiracy extends to the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy for the year 2021-22, where illegal financial flows in the form of kickbacks were orchestrated for the AAP. The proceeds of these alleged crimes were meant to be recouped by Kavitha and associates, further entrenching the financial gains from this entire plot, as per ED’s revelations.
To date, the ED’s rigorous investigation has spanned 245 locations nationwide, resulting in the arrest of 15 individuals, including AAP’s Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, and Vijay Nair. Alongside a primary prosecution complaint, five supplementary complaints have been filed. The ED has managed to trace assets worth Rs 128.79 crore, believed to be proceeds of the alleged crimes, leading to their provisional attachment.
Furthermore, the ED’s filing of its initial chargesheet marks a significant milestone in the ongoing investigation, which follows a CBI FIR, itself initiated on recommendations from the Delhi Lieutenant Governor based on prima facie evidence of policy violations detailed in a report by the Delhi Chief Secretary.
Allegations from the ED and CBI suggest that the Excise Policy was manipulated to unduly benefit license holders through fee waivers, license extensions without proper authority, and diversion of illicit gains to officials, accompanied by falsified account entries to conceal these activities. An accusation of misappropriated refunds amounting to Rs 30 crore and unwarranted fee waivers purportedly led to a substantial loss to the state exchequer, further complicating the intricate web of alleged corruption within the Excise Policy’s implementation.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on K Kavitha
Click Here to Read Previous Reports of Delhi Excise Policy Scam
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