Delhi Excise Scam: ‘Will Not Summon BRS Leader Kavitha Till Nov 20’, Says ED to SC

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday that it will refrain from summoning BRS leader K Kavitha in the Delhi excise policy case till the court hears her plea on November 20, 2023.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia advised Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate, “Don’t call her in the meantime.” ASG Raju assured the bench that Kavitha will not be summoned for questioning until November 20.

The bench scheduled Kavitha’s plea, challenging the summons issued by the agency on November 20, and stated that interim orders of protection will be extended in such matters.

On September 15, the ED had informed the apex court that the summons issued to Kavitha for her appearance before the agency would be extended by 10 days. The ED had issued the summons dated September 4 to Kavitha, the daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, seeking her presence at the agency’s Delhi office on September 15.

She approached the apex court with an application seeking directions to restrain the ED from issuing notices or summons under section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) during the pendency of her petition in which she sought protection from coercive action by the anti-money laundering agency. Section 50 of the PMLA deals with the powers of authorities regarding summons, production of documents, and giving evidence, among other things.

The application also sought a stay on the operation of the September 4 summons or any other summons and “all coercive measures relating thereto.”