ED quizzes K Kavitha for 9 hours in Delhi; no arrest, but fresh summons

HYDERABAD: Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao's daughter and BRS MLC, K Kavitha walked out of the Enforcement Directorate office in Delhi on Saturday evening, scotching speculation about her imminent arrest, after a marathon nine-hour interrogation by investigators on her role in the Delhi liquor policy scam.She was, however, served fresh summons to appear before the agency on March 16, three days after she celebrates her birthday in Hyderabad. She was coming from KCR's official residence on Tughlak Road. Her grilling ended at 8pm and she waved at supporters who dug in heels outside the ED office since morning.
After collating her financial and personal details, ED specifically grilled Kavitha on her alleged destruction of multiple mobile phones during the scam period to wipe out evidence. She was also confronted with another key accused, Arun Ramchandra Pillai on several round of meetings with AAP pointsperson on the liquor policy and alleged money transactions.
ED questions Kavitha on calls & chats
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday, questioned BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha on her WhatsApp chats and meetings with former auditor, Gorantla Butchibabu, whose mobile chats were replete with references to 'Madam'.
Allegations against Kavitha hovers around her key role in the south lobby in influencing the Delhi excise policy with Aam Aadmi party brass and paying kickbacks for favours. Also, she allegedly held benami investments in a tainted company, Indospirits. ED asked her about money transactions, which are pegged at ₹100 crore.
ED had served summons on Kavitha under Section 50 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, which confers power to ask a person to give evidence or furnish records during the investigation.
Six BRS ministers, including Kavitha's brother and IT minister K T Rama Rao spent the day in New Delhi to bolster support for her. A battery of lawyers was kept ready to fight the case in case of legal action by Enforcement Directorate.
Delhi police and central paramilitary forces barricaded ED offices to thwart protests by BRS leaders and activists who had reached Delhi. BRS leaders held simultaneous protests in Delhi and Hyderabad and raised slogans against BJP.
As Hyderabad businessman and alleged frontman of Kavitha, Arun Ramchandra Pillai, has retracted his statement to ED, the agency is now depending on Kavitha's ex-auditor, Gorantla Butchibabu's confessions on meetings with AAP leaders.