Delhi HC dismisses BRS leader K Kavitha’s plea seeking bail in excise policy case

  • Delhi High Court dismisses BRS leader K Kavitha’s plea seeking bail in the cases registered against her by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Delhi excise policy case.

Livemint
Updated1 Jul 2024, 05:59 PM IST
BRS leader K Kavitha was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 15
BRS leader K Kavitha was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 15

Delhi High Court on Monday, July 1, dismissed the plea seeking bail for BRS leader K Kavitha in the cases registered against her by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Delhi excise policy case.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who on May 28 reserved the order on Kavitha's two bail pleas, rejected the petitions.

Also Read | Delhi excise policy scam is worth over ₹1,100 crore: ED in chargesheet

BRS leader and daughter of former Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrashekar Rao, K Kavitha, challenged the trial court's May 6 order dismissing her bail applications in the CBI's corruption case and the ED's money-laundering case.

Kavitha's lawyer had submitted that out of the 50 accused in the excise matter, she is the lone woman and urged the court to consider granting her bail as the law keeps women on a different pedestal.

Also Read | Delhi Excise Case: Court extends judicial custody of K Kavitha till July 3

The CBI and ED opposed Kavitha's bail pleas, saying she was highly influential and powerful enough to influence witnesses.

Countering the submission made on behalf of Kavitha that she, being a woman, be released on bail, the probe agencies had contended that it was the woman who was playing the main role in the conspiracy here. She was an active politician and a member of the legislative council and could not seek parity with vulnerable women.

Also Read | CBI arrests BRS leader K Kavitha in Delhi excise policy ’scam’ case

The CBI's counsel argued that Kavitha was not just a woman but a very influential woman and was powerful enough to influence witnesses, as one of the witnesses has even stated that he was threatened by her.

The ED's counsel also contended that Kavitha was a co-conspirator and beneficiary of the excise scam and that the proceeds of the crime were directly going to her.

It had claimed that the politician, who was accused of a white-collar crime, was involved in the destruction of evidence and coercing people to retract their statements.

The ED, in its reply to the bail plea, opposed the bail plea, saying that Kavitha's release would adversely affect further investigation to unearth the "deep-rooted, multi-layered conspiracy."

Also Read | ‘Dal-rice, jail mattress’: BRS’ K Kavitha shares cell with inmates in Tihar

It contended that the Telangana lawmaker is a "highly influential" individual and stands accused of having committed a grave economic offence. It said she has the potential to tamper with evidence and influence witnesses.

"K Kavitha has conspired with other people and actively involved in payment of kickbacks to the tune of 100 crore and then in establishing the money laundering ecosystem, that is, M/s Indo Spirits through her proxy which generated proceeds of crime of 192.8 crore. By such acts, K Kavitha is involved in various processes and activities relating to proceeds of crime (POC) to the tune of 292.8 crore," the probe agency said in its counter affidavit.

The ED said there is ample evidence to link her to the offence of money laundering.

Kavitha is in judicial custody in the two cases the ED and the CBI lodged in the alleged scam.

The "scam" pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and implementing the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped.

Also Read | How ’South Group’ is linked to Arvind Kejriwal, K Kavitha’s arrest | Explained

The ED arrested Kavitha (46) from her Banjara Hills residence in Hyderabad on March 15, and the CBI arrested her from Tihar jail.

In her bail plea in the ED case, the BRS leader said she has "nothing to do" with the excise policy, and that a criminal conspiracy against her is "orchestrated by the ruling party at the Centre with the active connivance of the ED."

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First Published:1 Jul 2024, 05:59 PM IST
Business NewsNewsIndiaDelhi HC dismisses BRS leader K Kavitha’s plea seeking bail in excise policy case

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