BRS leader K Kavitha (Photo: ANI)
The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in response to bail petitions filed by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha, the court said. Bar and bench.
A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan has scheduled a hearing in the matter for August 20.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Kavitha, argued that she has been jailed for five months and is entitled to bail.
Rohatgi further maintained that Kavitha’s situation is similar to that of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who have both been granted bail by the Supreme Court – Kejriwal on an interim basis and Sisodia on a regular basis, as quoted by Bar and bench.
High Court rejects Kavitha’s bail plea
Kavitha’s bail applications were rejected by the Delhi High Court on July 1, prompting her to appeal to the Supreme Court.
In its decision to deny bail, the high court said it was not the appropriate time to grant regular bail as the investigation was at a critical stage.
The court dismissed her gender-based plea, saying that as an educated person and a former MP, Kavitha could not be considered a vulnerable woman. The court had stressed the “serious allegations” against her.
The court expressed its view that K Kavitha was, prima facie, one of the main conspirators in the criminal conspiracy relating to the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.
The apex court also noted that evidence gathered by the Education Department indicated Kavitha’s role as one of the key figures in orchestrating the entire conspiracy around the creation and execution of the policy.
Arrest of BRS leader
Kavitha was initially arrested by the Education Department on March 15 in Hyderabad and was later taken into custody by the CBI on April 11.
Both the CBI and the ED have accused her of involvement in bribery and money laundering activities related to the Delhi Excise Policy. On May 6, the trial court had denied Kavitha’s bail applications in the CBI and ED cases.
The case against Kavitha and others dates back to 2022, when the CBI registered an FIR alleging that the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 was manipulated to enable monopolisation and cartelisation of wholesale and retail liquor trade in Delhi.
According to the CBI and ED, certain individuals and groups in South India benefited from this scheme, and a portion of those profits were allegedly channelled to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to support its campaign for the Goa Assembly elections.
Kavitha is among several political figures arrested in connection with the case, along with Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, as well as AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia (who are currently out on bail). The AAP itself has also been named as an accused party in the case.
First published: August 12, 2024 | 14:25 IS
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