Delhi Liquor Policy: BRS MLC K Kavitha Moves Supreme Court Against Arrest In Money Laundering Case

BRS MLC K Kavitha on Monday moved the Supreme Court challenging her arrest in money laundering case relating to Delhi excise policy irregularities matter.

Kavitha called her arrest illegal, and said, "We will fight it out in court."

Source : PTI

BRS MLC K Kavitha on Monday moved the Supreme Court challenging her arrest in money laundering case relating to Delhi excise policy irregularities matter.

On Saturday, Delhi's Rouse Avenue court granted custody remand of Kavitha to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) till March 23. ED sought ten days remand of K Kavitha in connection with now scrapped Delhi liquor policy.

A bench of special Judge M K Nagpal heard her case after she was arrested from Hyderabad.

Kavitha called her arrest illegal, and said, "We will fight it out in court."

Kavitha's counsel had described her arrest as a blatant abuse of power and accused ED of violating a Supreme Court order.

The Supreme Court on Feb 28 had extended protection from arrest to K Kavitha till March 13 in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam. The Enforcement Directorate had issued her a fresh summons on February 21 asking her to appear on February 26. However she did not appear in the case.  

On February 25, responding to the summons issued to her, Kavitha had written to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), saying she would not appear before it for questioning in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam. Kavitha has refused to appear on summons twice. 

Kavitha had skipped the recent summon, citing important public engagements and a petition pending before the top court.

Kavitha, who is also the daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was last questioned by the central agency in December 2022. She moved the apex court seeking quashing of ED summons.

The Supreme Court had put the case on hold, giving her immunity from questioning till it reached a decision.

It has been alleged that Kavitha was a part of the "South Cartel" that benefited from kickbacks in the now scrapped liquor policy of Delhi.

Till now, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh have been arrested in the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has also received multiple summons from the ED in connection with the alleged money laundering in the now scrapped Delhi Excise policy.

The CBI has alleged that liquor companies were in communication with AAP MLAs while the policy was being framed. The "South Group," a liquor lobby according to the CBI , allegedly paid kickbacks that were routed to public servants to get the policy framed. The ED has alleged laundering of those kickbacks.