Delhi Excise Policy: HC Issues Notice to CBI on BRS Leader Kavitha’s Bail Plea

The Delhi High Court issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday concerning BRS leader Kalvakuntla Kavitha’s bail plea in a corruption case linked to the alleged excise policy scam.

CBI Stance

A bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma sought the CBI’s stance on the plea and scheduled further hearing on May 24, along with another petition by Kavitha seeking bail in the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) money laundering case.

Additionally, the high court issued notice and sought the CBI’s response on another plea by Kavitha against a trial court order permitting the probe agency to interrogate her in custody. Kavitha is in judicial custody in both cases lodged by the ED and the CBI in relation to the alleged scam.

Trial Court Rejected Bail’s Plea

The High Court has yet to decide on her bail application in the ED case, as the agency has been instructed to file its reply. The BRS leader has challenged the trial court’s decision on May 6, which denied her bail requests in both the corruption and money laundering cases.

The “scam” involves alleged corruption and money laundering concerning the formulation and execution of the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, which was subsequently annulled. Kavitha (46) was apprehended by the ED from her Banjara Hills residence in Hyderabad on March 15 and has remained in judicial custody since. The CBI detained her from Tihar jail in Delhi.

‘No Involvement’

In her bail plea regarding the ED case, the BRS leader maintained that she has ‘nothing’ to do with the excise policy and alleged a criminal conspiracy against her, purportedly orchestrated by the ruling party at the Centre with the active involvement of the Enforcement Directorate.