Home » Telangana » Not Money Laundering But Political Laundering Says Brs Mlc K Kavitha On Delhi Excise Scam

Not money laundering but political laundering, says BRS MLC K Kavitha on Delhi excise scam

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja sent Kavitha to 14 days of judicial custody, till 9 April, in the case after the ED did not seek her custody.

BySouth First Desk

Published Mar 26, 2024 | 12:32 PM ⚊UpdatedMar 26, 2024 | 1:36 PM

BRS MLC K Kavitha. (File pic/Supplied)

A court in New Delhi on Tuesday, 26 March, sent BRS leader K Kavitha to 14-day judicial custody in the Delhi excise policy scam case.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja passed the order after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) did not seek an extension of her custodial interrogation.

Speaking to reporters before entering court, Kavitha claimed, “This is not a money laundering case, it’s a political laundering case”.

She was arrested by the ED from her Hyderabad residence on 15 March for her involvement in the alleged scam during the implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

Also Read: Kavitha’s nephew involved in transfer, use of proceeds from Delhi liquor ‘scam’: ED

Sought interim bail

The BRS leader was sent to seven-day ED custody on 16 March and it was extended by three days last Saturday.

During the proceedings, Kavitha’s advocate Nitesh Rana sought interim bail on the grounds of her minor son’s exam.

The counsel for the ED countered the bail, saying even if interim bail is to be considered, then an opportunity must be given for filing a reply.

The ED underlined that for both interim and regular bail, there were stringent provisions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Kavitha’s counsel also sought permission to physically inspect the documents submitted by the agency in a sealed cover under provisions 19 (2) of the PMLA.

According to the provision, the authorities concerned, immediately after making an arrest were required to forward the arrest order along with the material in its possession to the court.

#DelhiLiquorExcisePolicy case:

Delhi court sends @BRSparty MLC and former Chief Minister of #Telangana K Chandrashekhar Rao Daughter #Kavitha to judicial custody till April 9th. pic.twitter.com/H2qqB2H8wb

— South First (@TheSouthfirst) March 26, 2024

Also Read: BRS MPs slam BJP for using probe agencies to arrest Kejriwal, Kavitha

‘Political laundering’

The BRS MLC — daughter of former Telangana chief minister and BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao — accused the BJP of fabricating the case against her.

“One accused is already there in the BJP. The second accused is getting a BJP ticket. The third accused has given ₹50 crore in electoral bonds,” she claimed.

“This case (against her) is fabricated and we (the BRS) will come out of it,” Kavitha said, adding that they would fight the case legally.

The ED has alleged that Kavitha, the daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, was a key member of the ‘South Group’ that has been accused of paying the AAP kickbacks of ₹100 crore in return for a big share of liquor licences in the national capital.

The ED suspects that Kavitha had orchestrated a deal with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the then deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia.

Meanwhile, in Hyderabad, the ED made searches at the residences of her relatives, including her husband’s sister’s in Madhapur. The searches are understood to have been based on information that the ED had extracted from her during their questioning.

(With PTI inputs)