The Supreme Court dismissed BRS MLC K. Kavitha’s bail plea in the Delhi liquor policy scam case and directed her to approach the trial court. The court has however issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate and sought the agency’s response on Kavitha’s plea challenging her arrest in the money laundering case.
Hearing the plea, A special bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna, M.M. Sundresh and Bela Trivedi refused to grant bail to the BRS leader and asked her to approach the trial court. The apex court however directed the trial court to hear the bail plea expeditiously once filed.
Taking up her writ petition, the bench said it is of the view that the statutory provisions should not be allowed to be bypassed. “All of us in principle agree that we should not, merely because there is a political person or somebody who can directly afford to come to the Supreme Court, bypass all the statutory and constitutional values,” Justice Khanna said.
Appearing for Kavitha, senior advocate Kapil Sibal said the investigating agency did not have any evidence except statements of approvers. “Only one request, please don’t tell me to go back to high court. Hear it, decide it against me, I do not mind. But see what is happening in our country. Every statement is of an approver, there is not a single piece of evidence. It is contrary to this court’s order,” he submitted.
Telangana MLC K. Kavitha, daughter of former Telangana CM K. Chandrashekar Rao was arrested by ED in connection with the now scrapped Delhi liquor policy case on March 15. According to the ED probe, Kavitha was part of the southern group which illegally benefitted from the scrapped policy.
The agency alleged Kavitha was a part of liquor cartel ‘South Group’ which paid kickbacks of Rs 100 crore to Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in return for favours under the now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22. Kavitha had filed a plea with the Supreme Court earlier challenging provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
