Delhi Liquor Policy Case: HC Seeks ED's Reply To K Kavitha's Bail Plea, Next Hearing On May 24

The Delhi High Court sought the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) response to bail plea filed by BRS leader K Kavitha in the money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam.

Kavitha moved high court after the Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on May 6 refused to grant her regular bail in connection with Delhi liquor policy case. ( Image Source :PTI )

The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) response to bail plea filed by BRS leader K Kavitha in the money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam. Kavitha moved high court after the Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on May 6 refused to grant her regular bail in connection with Delhi liquor policy case. A special CBI judge Kaveri Baweja dismissed the BRS leader's bail plea in cases filed by the the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) related to the now scrapped liquor policy.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the high court will hear the matter on May 24.

Kavitha was arrested on March 15. ED called Kavitha one of the prime movers of giving bribes. The central agency claimed that Kavitha is not only responsible for arranging kickbacks in advance but also beneficiary through Indo Spirits. 

On March 26, Kavitha was sent into judicial custody till April 9. She was arrested on March 15 by the ED. Her judicial custody has been extended from time to time.

A former MP and BRS leader Kavitha, who is also the daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was arrested for being part of the ‘South Group’ that allegedly benefitted from the now scrapped Delhi Excise Policy brought in by the AAP government in Delhi.

The ED claims that the South Group got uninhibited access, undue favours, and secured stakes in established wholesale businesses and multiple retail zones (over and above what was allowed in the policy). The ED has alleged that the now scrapped new excise policy was implemented by the AAP leaders as part of a conspiracy to give wholesale business profit of 12% to certain private companies in alcohol business.

Earlier on April 8, the Delhi court had dismissed an interim bail application moved by K Kavitha. Kavitha had sought interim bail on the grounds of the school examinations of her minor son. The Enforcement Directorate had opposed her bail plea saying that concessions provided for women under law are not applicable to women politicians like K Kavitha.