New Delhi: The Delhi High Court issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the bail plea of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K. Kavitha, an accused in a money laundering case linked to an alleged excise policy scam.
Kavitha approached the high court after a special court in Delhi dismissed her regular bail pleas on May 6 in cases under investigation by both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the ED.
Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court cited the gravity of the offence, the nature of the allegations against her, and the invoked offences in rejecting her pleas.
Currently, Kavitha, the daughter of BRS chief and former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, remains in judicial custody until May 20 in the ED’s case and until May 14 in the CBI’s.
The high court has requested the ED’s response to her bail plea and scheduled the matter for the next hearing on May 24.
The special court emphasized that the investigation is at a crucial stage regarding certain key aspects, including the involvement of public servants and private individuals, and the flow of ill-gotten money (proceeds of crime).
The judge observed that prima facie, Kavitha appears to be the central conspirator in the criminal conspiracy aimed at collecting and disbursing upfront money to the Aam Aadmi Party through co-accused to secure favorable provisions in the now-defunct Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.
“Her role in demanding upfront money and the alleged payment thereof for favorable provisions in the excise policy has also been highlighted during the arguments,” noted the court.
Kavitha cited hypertension as grounds for bail, emphasizing the need for medical attention after her arrest by the ED.
However, the judge pointed out that the relied-upon documents were old medical records dating back to 2013, and her complaints appeared to have been addressed.
Kavitha was initially arrested by the ED and subsequently by the CBI on April 11 while in Tihar Jail.
