CBI asks Kavitha to appear before it in Delhi Liquor scam

Kavitha was served the notice under Section 160 of the CrPC to appear before the CBI either in Hyderabad or in Delhi at 11 am on 6 December.

ByRaj Rayasam

Published Dec 02, 2022 | 11:24 PMUpdatedDec 07, 2022 | 9:49 PM

TRS MLC K Kavitha. (Supplied)

After the Enforcement Directorate mentioned TRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha in the remand report of one of the accused in the Delhi Liquor scam, Amit Arora, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has now served a notice on her to appear before it either in Hyderabad or in Delhi at 11 am on 6 December.

The notice was served on her under Section 160 of the CrPC for the investigation of the case RC 53 (A) 2022 of CBI/ACB/Delhi. Under this notice, she would have to appear before the CBI as a witness in the case.

The notice, signed by Deputy Superintendent of CBI, ACB, Delhi Aok Kumar Shahi, said that during the course of the investigation of the case, certain facts had emerged with which “you may be acquainted with, hence your examination on such facts is required in the interest of investigation”.

The notice said that Kavitha’s appearance before the CBI was part of the investigation of the case registered on the basis of the written complaint received from Praveen Kumar Rai, a Director at the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, dated 22 July, against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia and 14 others regarding the allegations pertaining Delhi’s 2021-22 excise policy.

Reacting to the notice, Kavitha said: “I have been issued a CBI notice under Section 160 of the CrPC seeking my clarification. I have informed the authorities that I can meet them at my residence in Hyderabad on 6 December as per their request.”

On 29 November, the Enforcement Directorate, in its application for sending Amit Arora — whom it had arrested — to remand, named Kavitha, YSRCP MP Magunta Srinivasul Reddy, and Aurobindo Pharma MD Sarath Redyas as people controlling what it called the “South Group”, which paid ₹100 crore to the AAP’s Vijay Nair in the form of kickbacks.

Section 160 of the CrPC deals with the police’s power to require the attendance of a witness.

It says: “Any police officer, making an investigation may, by order in writing, require the attendance before himself of any person and such person shall attend as so required.”