The Supreme Court Today Declined Urgent Relief for Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Leader K Kavitha, Arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Money Laundering Case Linked to Delhi Excise Policy.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today declined to grant bail to BRS leader K Kavitha, who has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Delhi excise policy scam case. The bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, MM Sundresh, and Bela M Trivedi directed Kavitha to approach the trial court, citing procedural norms that must be followed.
In response to Kavitha’s plea challenging the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the bench issued notice to the ED, seeking its response within six weeks.
“The petition challenging the provisions will be considered along with the pending matters,”
-the bench informed senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who represented Kavitha.
During the proceedings, Sibal raised concerns about individuals being arrested based on an approver’s statement. However, the bench clarified that it is not delving into the merits of the case at this juncture.
During the hearing today, Sibal at the outset made a request to the Court to not ask her to approach the High Court first.
While the submission was met by laughter, Sibal said,
“Please see what is happening in the country. All the statements are by approvers. I am very upset as counsel.”
The Court urged the senior counsel to not be overcome by emotions.
“Do not get emotional. This will take time. Vijay Madanlal review we are hearing. Regarding bail, you have to go to trial court,”
-it said.
While Sibal also referred to the case of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who was also recently arrested by the ED in a money laundering case, the Court said it cannot entertain Kavitha’s petition directly just because she was a political person.
Sibal then said that she was not “even in the character of an accused yet” as per a statement made in her case before the top court itself against the ED summons.
However, the Court was not convinced and issued notice only with respect to the challenge against provisions of PMLA.
After the Court dictated the order, Sibal said,
“When history of this court is written, this period will not be golden…If my lords don’t mind me saying.”
The ED has claimed that Kavitha was linked to a “South Group” lobby of liquor traders who were trying to play a larger role under the now scrapped Delhi Excise Policy for 2021-22.
Kavitha has taken her case to the highest court, contesting her arrest by the ED in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. As a member of the Telangana Legislative Council and the daughter of former state chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, Kavitha was arrested on March 15 and has been in the ED’s custody until March 23, as per the court’s orders.
CASE TITLE:
Kalvakuntla Kavitha v. Directorate of Enforcement
Click Here to Read Previous Reports of BRS Leader K Kavitha
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