The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to present the “material” evidence they had to establish the involvement of BRS leader K Kavitha in the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan was hearing Kavitha’s bail pleas in connection with the corruption and money laundering cases related to the alleged scam, which are being investigated by the CBI and the ED, respectively.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Kavitha, sought bail, arguing that the investigations against her had already been completed by both agencies. He also referenced the Supreme Court’s decision to grant bail to AAP leader Manish Sisodia, a co-accused in the two cases.
Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the investigating agencies, alleged that Kavitha had destroyed or formatted her mobile phone, which he claimed amounted to tampering with evidence. Rohatgi dismissed the allegation as “bogus.”
The bench questioned Raju, asking, “What is the material to show that she was involved in the crime?”
The hearing in the matter is ongoing.
On August 12, the apex court had sought responses from the CBI and the ED regarding Kavitha’s pleas challenging a July 1 Delhi High Court order that denied her bail in both cases. The high court had dismissed Kavitha’s bail pleas, stating that she was prima facie one of the main conspirators in the criminal conspiracy related to the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.
On March 15, the ED arrested Kavitha from her Banjara Hills residence in Hyderabad, and the CBI arrested her on April 11 from Tihar Jail.
The BRS leader has refuted all claims against her in the excise case.
