The Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi dismissed the bail pleas filed by Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha on Monday in relation to cases by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) concerning the Excise policy case.
Special judge Kaveri Baweja issued the order on Monday, stating that both bail pleas, in both the ED and CBI cases, were rejected. A detailed copy of the order is awaited.
Senior Advocates Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Vikram Chaudhari, along with advocates Nitesh Rana, Mohit Rao, and Deepak Nagar, represented K Kavitha in the matter.
In her plea, K Kavitha alleged that the ruling party at the Centre is employing investigative agencies to publicly link her to the Delhi Excise policy, aiming for further coercive actions against her. She argued that the investigating agencies are fully aware that there is no basis to the allegation of her involvement in the supposed scam. The petitioner contends that the intent behind the investigation against her is not to establish her role in the alleged scam, as it is evident that she is not involved.
Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi refuses to grant bail to BRS) leader K Kavitha in connection with ED and CBI cases related to the Delhi Excise Policy case.
(File photo) pic.twitter.com/zDsesF6k1j
— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2024
Kavitha, currently in judicial custody for her alleged involvement in a money laundering case linked to the excise policy scam, was initially arrested by the ED from her residence in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, on March 15. Later, on April 11, she was arrested by the CBI from Tihar jail.
Kavitha’s father and former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao denied all allegations against her in the Delhi excise policy case. He accused the Centre of orchestrating the scam to assert control over the Aam Aadmi Party and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). Rao argued that his daughter is innocent and criticized the prolonged detention of “such prominent leaders.”
Earlier the ED and CBI alleged irregularities in the modification of the excise policy, accusing the “prime suspects” of favoritism towards license holders, fee waivers or reductions, and unauthorized extensions of licenses.
In a related development, the Rouse Avenue Court dismissed the second bail petition of AAP leader Manish Sisodia, implicated in the Delhi excise policy scam, on April 28. Sisodia, in custody since February 26, 2023, sought bail citing trial delays in both CBI and ED cases. This was the second time his bail plea was rejected, following the dismissal of his first plea on March 31, 2023.