Excise policy case: BRS's Kavitha arrested by CBI in Tihar
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha was on Thursday arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the money laundering probe linked to the now-scrapped excise policy case. To recall, Kavitha is currently under judicial custody and is lodged in Tihar Jail. The detention by the CBI followed a recent round of questioning by the probe agency's officials inside the jail, after receiving approval from a special court.
Why does this story matter?
On March 15, the Enforcement Directorate arrested Kavitha in the alleged excise policy scam. The ED has accused Kavitha—daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao—of being a key member of the "South Group," which allegedly bribed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with ₹100 crore in exchange for liquor licenses under the policy. The money was then allegedly used by the AAP to fund its election campaigns in Goa and Punjab.
Evidence and interrogation details in Kavitha's case
According to reports, the CBI questioned Kavitha about WhatsApp chats recovered from co-accused Buchi Babu's phone and documents related to a land transaction. These pieces of evidence are believed to be linked to the ₹100 crore payment made as illicit payments to influence Delhi's excise policy. Notably, according to the ED, the "South Group" included Kavitha, Sarath Reddy (promoter of the Aurobindo Group), YSRCP MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, his son Raghav Magunta, and others.
Kavitha responds to allegations, claims privacy violation
On Tuesday, the Rouse Avenue court in Delhi extended the judicial custody of Kavitha until April 23 in the excise policy case. In a letter to the court, Kavitha said that the investigation by central agencies—which she called a "media trial"—has hit her reputation and invaded her privacy. A day before, the Delhi court had denied the interim bail plea of Kavitha.
Kavitha accuses BJP of misusing central agencies
In her letter, Kavitha accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of misusing central agencies for political gain. She stated that "95% cases of ED/CBI are against opposition leaders and when the accused joins the BJP the investigation abruptly stops." The court had earlier refused to permit Kavitha to address the court personally and said that she could give her requests in a written form.
Other AAP leaders arrested in case
Kavitha was the third high-profile politician to be arrested in the case, after AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh. On March 21, Arvind Kejriwal became the first sitting chief minister to be arrested in the case. Both Sisodia and Kejriwal are lodged in Tihar, while Singh was let out of the jail after six months on Wednesday. He had been in custody since October 2023, after his arrest by the ED in the same case.