Delhi Court Rejects Interim Bail Plea of K Kavitha in Delhi Excise Policy Case

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 8th April. A Delhi court on Monday denied interim bail to K Kavitha, a leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), in the Delhi excise policy case. The order was pronounced by Special Judge (PC Act) Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Courts after being reserved on April 4.

Kavitha was arrested on the evening of March 15 in Hyderabad, following a search and interrogation by an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team. She is currently in judicial custody at Tihar Jail.

She is one of the prominent politicians arrested by the ED in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. Other political figures arrested in this case include Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

All of them are accused of conspiring to manipulate the now-defunct Delhi Excise Policy for 2021-22 to facilitate money laundering and benefit specific liquor lobby groups.

The ED alleges that Kavitha was associated with a South Group lobby of liquor traders seeking to influence the excise policy.

It is claimed that one of the accused, Vijay Nair, received kickbacks of at least ₹100 crores on behalf of AAP leaders from the South Group, allegedly controlled by Sarath Reddy, K Kavitha, and Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy.

Kavitha maintains her innocence and accuses the Central government of misusing the ED to gain an advantage in Telangana.

On March 16, the Rouse Avenue Court remanded her to ED custody for a week. The Supreme Court denied her urgent relief on March 22, directing her to seek bail from the trial court.

She was placed in judicial custody until April 9 by the trial court on March 26, after which she filed a plea for interim bail.

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kavitha, cited a provision in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) allowing the release of female accused on bail under certain conditions.

He emphasized the emotional support needed by Kavitha’s 16-year-old son during his exams and argued that the absence of his mother would be detrimental.

Advocate Zoheb Hossain, representing the ED, opposed the bail, stating that the exception for women under the PMLA provision is not intended for influential public figures like Kavitha.

Hossain alleged that Kavitha played a significant role in the bribery scheme and benefited through proxies, supported by documents and WhatsApp chats.

He also accused Kavitha of destroying evidence, including data on her mobile phone, which could impact the ongoing investigation.