K Kavitha files petition against court’s approval for CBI to question her in Tihar

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha has filed an application in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court opposing the CBI’s permission to question her in Tihar Jail regarding the state excise policy case.

In her plea, Kavitha expressed concern that the CBI may have misrepresented facts to obtain a favorable court order without her knowledge. She requested the court to suspend its order until her side is heard.

The Special Judge, Kaveri Baweja, granted the CBI time to respond to Kavitha’s application opposing the permission granted for the interrogation. The matter is scheduled for hearing on April 10, 2024.

The plea was filed by Advocate Deepak Nagar on behalf of K Kavitha. Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhari and Advocate Nitesh Rana represented Kavitha in court.

On Friday, the Delhi Court permitted the CBI to question K Kavitha during judicial custody in Tihar Jail on any day of the coming week.

The CBI sought court permission to interrogate K Kavitha and record her statement regarding WhatsApp chats recovered from Buchi Babu’s phone and documents related to a land deal in which allegedly 100 crores were paid to the Aam Aadmi Party in kickbacks.

Previously, on March 26, 2024, the Rouse Avenue Court remanded Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha to judicial custody until April 9, 2024. She was arrested in connection with a money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested K Kavitha MLC, Telangana Legislative Council, on March 15, 2024, in the Delhi Liquor Policy Scam case. A search was conducted at her residence in Hyderabad on the same day. During the search, ED officials were obstructed by K Kavitha’s relatives and associates, according to an ED statement.

ED investigation revealed that K Kavitha conspired with top AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, to obtain favors in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise policy. In exchange, she allegedly paid Rs. 100 crores to AAP leaders.

Till date, the ED has conducted searches at 245 locations across the country. Fifteen people, including Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, and Vijay Nair from AAP, have been arrested in the case. ED has filed 1 Prosecution Complaint and 5 Supplementary Complaints.

Assets worth Rs. 128.79 Crore, generated from the proceeds of crime, have been traced and attached. ED has filed its first chargesheet in the case.

The CBI inquiry was recommended based on findings of a report by the Delhi Chief Secretary, showing prima facie violations of several laws. The ED and the CBI alleged irregularities in the modification of the excise policy, undue favors to license holders, and diversion of “illegal” gains to accused officials.