Delhi High Court seeks ED's response on Kavitha's bail plea
The Delhi High Court has sought a response from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a bail plea filed by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha. Kavitha is seeking bail in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi liquor excise policy 2021-22. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the high court has asked the ED to file its response and set May 24 as the date for further proceedings.
Why does this story matter?
Kavitha, the daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, was arrested by the ED on March 15 and later by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on April 11. The agencies have alleged that Kavitha, along with other members of the South Group, conspired with top Aam Aadmi Party leaders to get undue favors in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped excise policy. In exchange, the group gave the AAP ₹100 crore in kickbacks.
Trial court's ruling on Kavitha's involvement
Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of Rouse Avenue Court had rejected Kavitha's bail plea in both the money laundering and corruption cases being probed by the ED and CBI on May 6. "From the aforesaid statements, the involvement of the applicant in the acts of payment of kickbacks to government functionaries in order to gain illegal benefits in the Excise Policy 2021-22 formulation and implementation, prima facie appears to be made out," Baweja noted
Kavitha's allegations against ED and CBI
In her plea to the high court, Kavitha claimed that members of the ruling party at the Centre have conspired against her with active assistance from the ED. She alleged that ED's investigation is compromised and is not being carried out to find untainted truth but to further political agenda. The BRS leader also accused the ED and CBI of acting in collusion with members of the ruling party with the sole aim of tarnishing her reputation.
