Former Telangana Ministers Satyavathi Rathod and Sabitha Indra Reddy visited Tihar Jail in Delhi to meet BRS leader K Kavitha. Kavitha was first arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 15 and was in CBI custody until March 23. On April 11, she was arrested again by the CBI and taken to Tihar Jail. A Delhi court had earlier reserved its decision on her interim bail plea, filed for her son’s upcoming exam, for April 9.
#WATCH | Delhi: Members of the Telangana Legislative Assembly, Satyavathi Rathod & Sabitha Indra Reddy arrived at Tihar Jail to meet BRS leader K Kavitha.
The Rouse Avenue court had extended the judicial custody of BRS leader K Kavitha till June 21. pic.twitter.com/Hy67NMiSVo
— ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2024
Before her arrest, Kavitha had been summoned multiple times for questioning but missed at least two of these summons. Last year, she was questioned three times, with her statements recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
During her recent custody, CBI officials questioned Kavitha about WhatsApp chats from co-accused Buchi Babu’s phone and documents related to a land deal. The investigation revealed that ₹100 crores were allegedly paid to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as kickbacks to influence the excise policy in favor of a liquor lobby.
Kavitha is the third high-profile politician arrested in this case, following AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh. On March 21, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal became the first sitting chief minister to be arrested in connection with this case.
The Enforcement Directorate has accused Kavitha of being part of the so-called ‘South Group,’ which allegedly paid ₹100 crore in kickbacks to AAP leaders for nine retail zones under the now-defunct policy. Other individuals named in the ‘South Group’ include Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSCRCP) MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, his son Raghav Magunta, Aurobindo Group promoter Sarath Reddy, and Delhi-based businessman Sameer Mahendru.