India: Delhi court sends BRS leader K Kavitha to CBI custody till April 15

Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Friday (Apr 12) sent Bharat Rasthra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody till April 15 over the Delhi excise policy case.

Earlier on Friday, CBI stated that Kavitha did not give satisfactory responses on being questioned about the payment of kickbacks made to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to sway the excise policy for Delhi to the advantage of a liquor lobby.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, after hearing arguments of CBI and Kavitha’s counsel, passed the order.

Former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao's daughter Kavitha was arrested by CBI on Thursday (Apr 11) in Delhi's Tihar Jail where she was imprisoned following her arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the month of March over her alleged involvement in a money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy scam.

CBI remand application stated, "Ms Kavitha Kalvakuntla was required to be arrested in the instant case to conduct her custodial interrogation for confronting her with the evidence and witnesses to unearth the larger conspiracy hatched among the accused/suspect persons regarding formulation and implementation of the Excise Policy, as well as to establish the money trail of ill-gotten money generated and to establish the role of other accused/suspect persons including public servants as well as to unearth the facts which are in her exclusive knowledge."

While seeking Kavitha's custodial remand, CBI said to the court that one of the firms under Aurbindo Group made a payment of Rs 14 crore via a bank transaction in July 2021.

The BRS leader's attorneys opposed CBI's remand application and argued that the arrest by the central probe agency was without any approval, permission or imprimatur of the Court.

"K Kavitha was lying in custody in the PMLA case. This Court is exercising distinct jurisdiction in the capacity of Special Judge (PMLA) vis-a-vis Special Judge (CBI). Both jurisdictions cannot overlap and the CBI cannot use them to violate the procedures established by law," the lawyers submitted.

(With inputs from agencies)