- By Vivek Raj
- Mon, 08 Apr 2024 11:30 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on Monday dismissed the interim bail application filed by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, K Kavitha in connection with the money laundering case linked to the now-abolished Delhi excise policy. The regular bail plea of K Kavitha is currently awaiting consideration by the court and is scheduled for hearing on April 20. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) team arrested K Kavitha from her Banjara Hills residence in Hyderabad on March 15 in connection with the money laundering case.
Allegedly a key member of the "South Group," Kavitha stands accused of facilitating kickbacks of Rs 100 crore to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi in exchange for a significant portion of liquor licenses in the national capital. She was remanded to 14-day judicial custody last Tuesday.
The latest development comes just two days after K Kavitha moved the Delhi court, urging it to retract its order permitting the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to interrogate her in Tihar jail. The CBI is investigating the corruption aspect of the excise policy case.
During the court proceedings, Kavitha's advocate, Nitesh Rana, argued that the CBI's plea for interrogation was filed without her knowledge, potentially undermining due process.
Expressing concerns about the transparency of the CBI's actions, Rana stated, "I have serious apprehensions that the CBI may have concealed facts to obtain a favorable order from the court."
The court considered the arguments presented and scheduled the matter for further hearing on April 10, allowing the CBI time to respond to Kavitha's plea.
However, the Special Judge for ED and CBI cases, Kaveri Baweja, declined to grant interim relief to K Kavitha.
Following the court's decision, Rana said that, in accordance with judicial principles, the investigative agency should refrain from implementing the interrogation order until the resolution of Kavitha's plea before the court.
The Enforcement Directorate has arrested several AAP leaders including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case. Sanjay Singh, another leader arrested by the probe agency team recently walked out of jail on bail. AAP leaders have alleged that the ruling BJP government is targeting opposition leaders through agencies such as ED, CBI and IT.