K Kavitha Challenges CBI’s Tihar Questioning In Delhi excise Case

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

The plea, filed by Advocate Deepak Nagar on behalf of K Kavitha, stated that the CBI had bypassed due process of law by filing the plea without informing her or her counsel. K Kavitha expressed concerns that the CBI might not have presented all facts accurately to obtain a favorable order from the court. She requested the court to withhold its order until her side is heard.

Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhari and Advocate Nitesh Rana represented K Kavitha during the proceedings. The Special Judge Kaveri Baweja heard the submissions and granted time to the CBI to file a response to K Kavitha’s application opposing the permission granted for questioning in Tihar Jail. The court has scheduled the matter for hearing on April 10, 2024.

On a previous occasion, the Delhi Court had allowed the CBI’s plea to interrogate K Kavitha during judicial custody in Tihar Jail on any day of the upcoming week. The CBI, in its application, sought court permission to question and record the statement of BRS Leader K Kavitha regarding WhatsApp chats recovered from Buchi Babu’s phone and documents related to a land deal where allegedly 100 crores were paid to the Aam Aadmi Party in kickbacks.

K Kavitha, an MLC from the Telangana Legislative Council, was sent to judicial custody until April 9, 2024, by the Rouse Avenue Court on March 26, 2024. This came after her arrest in connection with a Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) arrested K Kavitha on March 15, 2024, in the Delhi Liquor Policy Scam case. A search was conducted at her residence in Hyderabad, during which ED officials were reportedly obstructed by her relatives and associates.

ED’s investigation revealed alleged conspiracy and corruption involving K Kavitha and others with top leaders of AAP, including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, regarding the Delhi Excise policy formulation and implementation. It was alleged that 100 Crore rupees were paid to AAP leaders in exchange for favors.

The ED has conducted searches at 245 locations across the country, including Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Mumbai. So far, 15 people, including Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, and Vijay Nair from AAP, have been arrested in the case. The agency has filed one Prosecution Complaint and five Supplementary Complaints in the case.

Assets worth Rs 128.79 Crore, derived from proceeds of crime, have been traced and attached by the ED. The agency has undertaken nearly 200 search operations and filed its first chargesheet in the case. The CBI inquiry was initiated based on a report by the Delhi Chief Secretary showing prima facie violations of various acts and rules related to the Delhi Excise Policy.

The probe agencies have alleged irregularities in modifying the excise policy, extending undue favors to license holders, and causing losses to the exchequer. These alleged actions include waiving or reducing license fees and extending licenses without proper approval. The Excise Department’s decisions, such as refunding earnest money deposits and granting waivers on license fees, are under scrutiny, with the probe agencies claiming a loss of Rs 144.36 crore to the exchequer.