BRS Leader K Kavitha Sent to Judicial Custody in Delhi Liquor Policy Case
Desk Report, April 15, 2024: New developments emerged today as Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court ordered the judicial custody of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha until April 23 in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case. The decision follows the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) assertion that Kavitha failed to cooperate with the investigation and provided evasive responses contrary to the evidence on record.
K Kavitha, daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, was presented before the court as her three-day custody concluded. The CBI opted not to seek an extension of her police custody and instead requested 14-day judicial custody. The agency stated that Kavitha, during her police remand, could not satisfactorily explain the transfer of Rs 14 crore from the company of P Sarath Chandra Reddy, an approver in the liquor policy case, under the guise of a land deal.
Additionally, she reportedly lacked clarity regarding her interactions with Vijay Nair, an accused in the case, and YSRCP MP Magunta Srinivasula Reddy. Furthermore, Kavitha allegedly provided inadequate responses regarding Butchibabu Gorantla’s transfer of funds to her and other aspects related to the criminal conspiracy in formulating and implementing the now-defunct liquor policy.
While asserting that further custodial interrogation is unnecessary at this stage, the CBI expressed concerns about Kavitha’s influential status as a prominent politician. The agency cited potential risks of witness tampering, evidence tampering, and obstruction of ongoing investigations.
However, Kavitha’s legal counsel, Nitesh Rana, opposed the CBI’s submission, emphasizing that an accused is not obligated to respond according to the investigating agency’s preferences.
On April 12, the CBI had informed Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court about Kavitha’s alleged involvement in a conspiracy to extort a Rs 100 crore kickback from a liquor baron. The agency claimed that during the probe, it was revealed that a southern businessman had met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking support, and Kejriwal allegedly directed him to Kavitha.
Kavitha, already in Tihar Jail following her arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the liquor policy case, was further arrested by the CBI on April 11. Her initial arrest by the ED occurred at her residence in Hyderabad on March 15, on charges of money laundering related to the same case.
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