Published Mar 12, 2026 | 8:04 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 12, 2026 | 8:04 PM
K Kavitha. Credit: x.com/RaoKavitha
Synopsis: The petition seeks to challenge a February 27, 2026, order by a special trial court that discharged all 23 accused persons, including former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and K Kavitha.
Telangana Jagruthi president and former BRS MLC Kavitha Kalvakuntla on Thursday, 12 March, received a formal notice from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday, informing her of a petition before the Delhi High Court challenging her discharge in the high-profile Delhi excise policy corruption case.
The notice, issued by the Delhi High Court and dated March 10, 2026, pertains to Criminal Revision Petition No. 134/2026 along with connected Criminal Miscellaneous Application No. 6853/2026. They were filed by the CBI as petitioner against respondents including Kuldeep Singh and others with K Kavitha listed as Respondent No. 17.
The petition seeks to challenge a February 27, 2026, order by a special trial court that discharged all 23 accused persons, including former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and K Kavitha.
The notice, personally served by a CBI team at her residence in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, stated that the matter was fixed for hearing on 16 March, 2026, at 10:30 A.M. It advises that she may appear to argue against the application or face the risk of the petition being heard and decided ex-parte in her absence.
K Kavitha confirmed receipt of the notice, stating: “I have been served a notice by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at around 12.30 PM today, informing me of the petition being presented in the High Court on 16 March. I am in consultation with my legal team and will respond appropriately through official channels. As someone who is confident that truth will prevail, I intend to fully cooperate with the legal machinery.”
She emphasized that serving such a notice is standard procedure when an investigating agency files an appeal in a higher court and urged stakeholders not to misinterpret it.
I have been served a notice by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at around 12.30 PM today, informing me of the petition being presented in the Hon’ble High Court on 16/03/26.
I am in consultation with my legal team and will respond appropriately through official… pic.twitter.com/qhxU8ACVfq
— Kavitha Kalvakuntla (@RaoKavitha) March 12, 2026
The development follows the Delhi High Court’s March 9, 2026, order by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, to all 23 discharged accused and stayed certain “prejudicial” and “prima facie erroneous” remarks made by the trial court against CBI officials and the investigation process.
The High Court also directed the trial court to defer proceedings in the linked Enforcement Directorate money-laundering case until it decides the CBI’s revision petition.
In the trial court’s February 27 verdict, Special Judge Jitendra Singh had discharged the accused after finding the CBI’s case relied heavily on uncorroborated approver statements, suffered procedural lapses, and failed to meet the threshold for framing charges. The court had also recommended a departmental inquiry against the CBI’s investigating officer.
K Kavitha was previously arrested by the ED in March 2024 and by the CBI in April 2024 in connection with the case, which alleges irregularities in the now-scrapped 2021-22 Delhi excise policy leading to alleged kickbacks and corruption. She was granted bail by the Supreme Court in August 2024.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
