The Delhi High Court will on Monday rule on the bail applications of BRS leader K Kavitha in connection with allegations of corruption and money laundering related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who reserved judgment on both Kavitha’s bail applications on May 28, will give the verdict at 2.30 pm on July 1, PTI reported.
According to the report, Kavitha filed an appeal against the trial court’s May 6 judgment, which denied her bail applications in both the CBI corruption probe and the ED money laundering case. arising from the Delhi excise policy scam. Her lawyer claimed that Kavitha is the only woman among the 50 accused in the excise case and requested the court to grant her bail, citing the law’s consideration towards women.
However, the CBI and ED opposed the bail applications, alleging that Kavitha was very influential and strong enough to potentially influence witnesses. The agencies stated that she played a key role in the conspiracy and, as an active politician and member of the legislative council, she is not eligible for the leniency usually granted to vulnerable women, the report added.
The CBI lawyer argued that Kavitha’s influence had the potential to intimidate witnesses, and one of them was allegedly intimidated by her. The ED lawyer alleged that Kavitha was both an accomplice and beneficiary of the Delhi excise policy scam, making direct profits from it. She was also accused of erasing evidence and pressurising witnesses to withdraw their accounts.
The Department of Education claimed that Kavitha’s release would jeopardize the investigation into the “deep and multi-layered conspiracy”. She was identified as a “very influential” person accused of committing a serious economic crime, with the ability to manipulate evidence and influence witnesses, according to the PTI report.
The ED counter-affidavit said Kavitha conspired with others and was actively involved in paying bribes of Rs 100 crore. She allegedly built the money laundering ecosystem through her representative, earning Rs 192.8 crore. The total proceeds of crime associated with her operations stand at Rs 292.8 crore.
According to the news agency report, Kavitha is currently under judicial custody in connection with the two complaints filed by the ED and the CBI regarding the alleged scam, which involves corruption and money laundering in the formulation and implementation of the excise policy. 2021-22 of Delhi Government. , later scrapped.
The ED arrested Kavitha (46) from her residence in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, on March 15, while the CBI arrested her from Tihar jail. In her bail plea, the BRS leader, daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, claims she has “nothing to do” with the excise policy and alleges a criminal conspiracy against her orchestrated by the party. ruler at the center, with the active participation of the Department of Education.