NEW DELHI: In another major setback to BRS leader, K Kavitha, a Delhi court on Monday in its order refused to grant her interim bail for her alleged involvement in the Delhi excise policy-related money laundering case, after noting that the stage was not right to enlarge her on interim bail.
Special Judge of CBI and ED cases, of the Rouse Avenue Court here in Delhi, Judge Kaveri Baweja dismissed Kavitha's interim bail plea in the liquor case.
"Prima facie there appeared to be sufficient material against the accused (Kavitha). In the light of the discussion, the material on record and the seriousness of allegations against the accused, this court is not inclined to admit the applicant on bail at this stage," Judge Baweja said in her order.
This was the third time, the Delhi Court had rejected her bail application, after noting that her alleged complicity in the case could not be ruled out.
"Kavitha has been instrumental in influencing witnesses. There is every likelihood of her influencing witnesses if she is allowed to be released on bail," Judge Baweja said in her order.
Kavitha, pleaded for interim bail on the ground that she being a woman, she is seeking bail as she falls within the first proviso to Section 45 (1) of PMLA.
Opposing the bail plea of Kavitha, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) which is the central probe agency in the case, claimed before the court that Kavitha allegedly destroyed material evidences and influenced witnesses in the case.
The agency had alleged that Kavitha is a key member of the "South Group", which has been accused of paying the ruling AAP in Delhi kickbacks of Rs 100 crore in return for a big share of liquor licences in the national capital.
She said that her arrest is unconstitutional illegal and unwarranted in law.
The ED in the evening of Marxh 15 had arrested Kavitha from her Hyderabad residence in the case.
It is to be noted that the ED is investigating Kavitha's role in allegedly influencing the now-scrapped liquor policy in the national capital and bribery allegations. In March last year, her writ petition was tagged with a 2018 plea filed by Nalini Chidambaram.
Kavitha, 46, the daughter of the former Chief Minister of Telanagana, K Chandrashekar Rao, claimed innocent in the Delhi Excise Policy scam case.
Kavitha said that her arrest was a blatant misuse of power by the ED.
The ED, in its allegation claimed Kavitha was linked to a "South Group" lobby of liquor traders who were trying to play a larger role under the now scrapped Delhi excise policy for 2021-22.
It has been alleged by the ED that one of the accused in the case, Vijay Nair, received kickbacks to the tune of at least ₹100 crores on behalf of AAP leaders from the "South Group", allegedly controlled by Sarath Reddy, Kavitha and Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy.
