BRS leader Kavitha appears before Delhi Court in excise policy case

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) lawmaker K Kavitha appeared before the Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi on Saturday in relation to the alleged money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy. Kavitha, a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) and the daughter of BRS founder and former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, was taken into custody following a day-long interrogation and a raid at her Hyderabad residence on Friday.

Before her court appearance, Kavitha stated to reporters, “it is an illegal arrest.” She was presented before Special Judge MK Nagpal at the Rouse Avenue court.

In the arrest order, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation officer stated, “I believe that Smt. Kalvakuntla Kavitha…has been guilty of an offence punishable under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (15 of 2003).” The officer further added, “Now, therefore, in exercise of the power conferred upon me…I hereby arrest the said Smt. Kalvakuntla Kavitha…”

This action follows nearly two months after the ED issued a summons to the 45-year-old BRS leader. She had been questioned three times last year in connection with this case, with her statement recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Earlier today, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also appeared before the Rouse Avenue Court in the national capital in response to an Enforcement Directorate summons. The court later granted him bail in both complaints filed by the Enforcement Directorate.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Divya Malhotra granted bail to the Delhi CM, with bail set at Rs 15,000 and a surety of Rs 1 lakh.

Kejriwal’s appearance followed summons issued to him based on two complaints by the ED regarding the Delhi Excise Policy case. The court reserved an order on the stay of summons issued to Kejriwal on complaints filed by the ED.