NEW DELHI: Delhi High Court on Monday in its order rejected the appeal filed by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha, seeking bail in the cases filed by both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the 2021-22 Excise Policy case.
While pronouncing the order, Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma, said, there was no merit in the prayer field by the accused seeking bail in the case. "The bail appeal is accordingly dismissed," the judge said.
On May 6, the Rouse Avenue Court here in Delhi dismissed Kavitha's bail plea in the excise case, forcing her to move an appeal before the Delhi HC seeking bail and challenging the dismissal of bail.
Kavitha was arrested by the ED on the evening of March 15 from her residence in Hyderabad. Subsequently, the CBI took her into custody on April 11 from Tihar jail in the same case.
The two probe agencies -- CBI and the ED -- have claimed that she was involved in the exchange of bribes and the laundering of money in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy.
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.
The trial court had dismissed her bail on the ground that there were sufficient materials against her to proceed in the 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," Special Judge of CBI and ED cases, of the Rouse Avenue Court, Judge Kaveri Baweja had said rejecting her bail plea.
"Kavitha has been instrumental in influencing witnesses. There is every likelihood of her influencing witnesses if she is allowed to be released on bail," the court noted.
In her bail plea in the ED case, Kavita had said she had "nothing to do" with the excise policy and there was a criminal conspiracy against her "orchestrated by the ruling party at the Centre with the active connivance of the ED". She noted that her arrest was illegal, unconstitutional and unwarranted in law.
