BRS leaders protest over K Kavitha’s detention in Telangana

Leaders of the Bharat Rastra Samiti (BRS) conducted demonstrations across various parts of Telangana on Thursday in response to the arrest of party legislator K Kavitha by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy. The protests took place at Siddhipet’s old bus stand, where the leaders voiced their dissent. However, the police intervened and detained the protestors.

Local BRS MLAs Rajashekar Reddy and Laxma Reddy, along with their supporters, organized a protest in Hyderabad at Uppal Radhika X Roads and Malkajgiri X Roads. They were heard chanting the slogan “ED Modi ek hai”. Subsequently, the police detained them and transferred them to the local police station.

Meanwhile, K Kavitha, who was apprehended from her residence in Bajara Hills, Hyderabad, on Friday, was presented before the Rouse Avenue Court in the national capital on Saturday. Kavitha, a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) and the daughter of BRS founder and former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, expressed her view to reporters, stating that “it is an illegal arrest.”

This action by the ED comes nearly two months after issuing a summons to the 45-year-old BRS leader. Last year, she was interrogated three times in connection with this case, with the central agency recording her statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

In the arrest order, the ED investigation officer stated, “I believe that Smt. Kalvakuntla Kavitha residing at H. No. 8-2316/S/H, Road No 14, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana-500034 has been guilty of an offence punishable under the provision of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (15 of 2003).” Furthermore, the officer executed the arrest of Kavitha at 05:20 pm on 15.03.2024, and she was duly informed of the grounds for her arrest.