K Kavitha arrested: BRS leader KTR Rao engages in heated debate with ED officials | Watch

BRS leader KTR Rao was seen engaging in a heated war or words with Enforcement Directorate officials on Friday as fellow party leader K Kavitha was detained. The incident took place inside the BRS MLC's home in Hyderabad following a lengthy raid. K Kavitha — the daughter of former Chief Minister KCR — was arrested and shifted to Delhi for further questioning in connection the Delhi excise policy scam case.

“You are in serious trouble. Search is over and an arrest warrant is produced and now she (ED official) says you cannot come in. Family cannot come in and she also says they have no transit warrant and cannot produce before a magistrate, but she wants to make a case,” he was heard telling the officials in the video.

Kavitha's legal team said the arrest was illegal as her petition against the ED summons had been listed by the Supreme Court for hearing on March 19. BRS working president K T Rama Rao, former minister Harish Rao and a large number of party workers gathered at Kavitha's residence and raised slogans following the move.

Meanwhile, ED officials said that her husband DR Anil Kumar was informed about her arrest and her preliminary statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after the search began at 1:45 pm.

Kavitha is the third high profile leader to be arrested in the case after AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh. Her arrest incidentally came a day before the scheduled announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule.

Officials are likely to produce her before a designated PMLA court on Saturday to seek remand for custodial interrogation.

The Enforcement Directorate had claimed Kavitha was linked to a "South Group" lobby of liquor traders who were trying to play a larger role under the now scrapped Delhi excise policy for 2021-22. According to former Telangana minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy, the MLC was arrested and taken to Delhi on a flight at 8.45 pm.

(With inputs from agencies)