Excise policy: Delhi HC seeks CBI’s response on BRS leader Kavitha’s bail plea in corruption case
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and sought its response on a bail plea filed by Bharat Rasthra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha in a corruption case lodged in connection with the alleged excise policy scam.
High Court listed Kavitha’s plea seeking bail in CBI case for hearing on May 24 along with her another plea for bail in ED case
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma sought the response of the CBI on Kavitha’s plea and listed the matter for further hearing on May 24 along with another petition filed by Kavitha seeking bail in the excise policy-linked money laundering case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The High Court also issued notice to the CBI and sought its response on another plea filed by Kavitha challenging an order of the trial court allowing CBI to interrogate her in judicial custody.
Kavitha is currently lodged in judicial custody in Tihar Jail
Kavitha, who is the daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and a BRS MLC, is currently lodged in judicial custody in Tihar Jail in CBI and ED cases registered in connection with the alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the now-defunct Delhi Excise Policy.
The trial court dismissed the bail pleas of Kavitha in both the cases – CBI and ED – on May 6.
The High Court earlier issued notice to the ED and sought its response on Kavitha’s bail plea in the money laundering case and listed her plea for further hearing on May 24.
What are the allegations?
The central investigating agencies have alleged that Kavitha is “one of the kingpins, a key conspirator and beneficiary of the Delhi excise policy scam” and a key member of the “South Group”, which allegedly paid kickbacks of Rs 100 crore to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi in exchange for a big share of liquor licences in Delhi.
The ED arrested Kavitha in the money laundering case from her residence in Hyderabad on March 15 and later she was arrested by the CBI in the corruption case from Tihar Jail on April 11.