Supreme Court shields BRS leader K Kavitha from arrest or summonses by the Enforcement Directorate until February 16.
The Supreme Court of India has extended protection for BRS leader K Kavitha, shielding her from arrest or summonses by the Enforcement Directorate until February 16. This decision underscores the continuing legal challenges and complexities surrounding the high-profile investigation. Kavitha’s case is scheduled for a hearing on February 16.
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The Enforcement Directorate, a key agency in probing financial crimes, has been keen on questioning Kavitha in connection with her alleged involvement in a controversial liquor cartel case. However, the Supreme Court’s intervention has temporarily halted the ED’s efforts, marking the second instance where the apex court has provided Kavitha with such a reprieve. Previously, in September of the preceding year, the court had directed the ED not to summon Kavitha for questioning until her legal challenge against the summons was addressed, with a hearing initially set for November 20.
Kavitha’s legal plea is crucial in this ongoing situation. She argues against the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) way of summoning, pointing to legal provisions stating that a woman shouldn’t be forced to appear at an office for questioning. Instead, she insists that any questioning should take place at her home, following the guidelines in the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). This forms the main point of her plea to the Supreme Court, asking to stop the ED from summoning her under section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Kavitha is accused of being part of a liquor group, the ‘South Group,’ which allegedly gave about Rs 100 crore to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). This was supposedly to get a better share in Delhi’s liquor business under the old policy for 2020-21. The case is getting a lot of attention because important people are involved, and a large amount of money is at stake.
When Kavitha was questioned by the ED, they brought up statements from Arun Ramchandran Pillai, a businessman from Hyderabad and a co-accused. He is thought to have close ties with her. The ED’s investigation has named several people in the ‘South Group,’ including Sarath Reddy, the former owner of Aurobindo Pharma; Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, a YSR Congress MP from Andhra Pradesh; his son Raghav Magunta, and others.
As the Supreme Court continues to deliberate on K Kavitha’s plea, the outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for legal precedents and the enforcement of financial crime laws in the country.
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