Court Orders K Kavitha into 3-Day CBI Custody Amid Excise Policy Scam Probe Until April 15: In a significant development, K Kavitha, a prominent leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, has been remanded to three days of custody by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the excise policy case.
The decision was made by the Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi, following a request from the CBI for a five-day custodial remand. After careful consideration, the Special Judge, Kaveri Baweja, ruled in favor of a three-day remand until April 15.
Kavitha was arrested by the CBI while already in judicial custody in a case being pursued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The CBI’s remand application emphasized the necessity of Kavitha’s custodial interrogation to uncover a broader conspiracy related to the formulation and implementation of the Excise Policy. They aim to establish the money trail of illicitly acquired funds and to ascertain the involvement of other individuals, including public servants.
According to the CBI, evidence suggests that Kavitha was involved in transactions totaling Rs 14 crore through a company under the Aurbindo Group. Moreover, it was alleged that Kavitha demanded Rs 25 crore from Sarath Chandra Reddy, threatening consequences for his business when he hesitated to comply.
Kavitha’s defense team, led by Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhari, contested the remand application, arguing that her arrest lacked proper approval and alleging political motives behind the timing of the arrest, especially given the upcoming Lok Sabha Polls in Telangana.
This development follows Kavitha’s earlier arrest by the ED on March 15 in connection with an alleged liquor policy scam.
The ED and the CBI’s investigations stem from reported irregularities in modifying the excise policy, including undue favors to license holders, waivers or reductions in license fees, and extensions of licenses without proper authorization. The agencies allege that these actions resulted in financial losses to the exchequer.
The CBI’s decision to remand Kavitha highlights the gravity of the allegations and the ongoing efforts to address corruption in policy formulation and implementation. The case continues to unfold, with further investigations expected to shed light on the extent of wrongdoing and those involved.
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