A Delhi Court has refused to grant interim bail to BRS leader K Kavitha in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged liquor policy scam. Kavitha, daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao and a member of the Telangana Legislative Council, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) following searches at her Hyderabad residence by the agency and the Income Tax department.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kavitha, argued for her release on interim bail, highlighting her role as a mother with a 16-year-old son about to start exams. However, the ED opposed the bail plea, alleging Kavitha’s involvement in arranging kickbacks and destroying evidence, including tampering with her mobile phones before handing them over to the ED.
The ED claimed that Kavitha, along with other members of the South Group, conspired with top Aam Aadmi Party leaders to receive kickbacks amounting to Rs. 100 Crore in exchange for undue favors in the excise policy. The agency also alleged attempts by Kavitha to coerce witnesses into retracting their statements.
Kavitha’s plea challenging the ED summons was withdrawn from the Supreme Court, which directed her to seek bail from the trial court. The ED has issued summons to her as part of its wider investigation into financial irregularities surrounding the scrapped liquor policy and the alleged involvement of a ‘south liquor lobby’.