Hyderabad: Senior leaders of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), including the party’s working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) and several MLAs, have arrived in Delhi. They are optimistic that MLC K Kavitha might be granted bail in the Delhi Liquor Policy case, which the Supreme Court will hear on Tuesday. The BRS leaders are hopeful that Kavitha will be released.
KTR, T Harish Rao, and other MLAs have traveled to Delhi in anticipation of Kavitha’s release. Reports suggest that they may be there to receive her from Tihar Jail. Kavitha has been in jail for the past five and a half months following her arrest in connection with the now-canceled Delhi Liquor Policy case. She was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from her Hyderabad residence on March 15 and was presented in court the next day on March 16.
On April 11, while she was already in judicial custody, Kavitha was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has denied her bail on multiple occasions. The investigating agencies argued that Kavitha was the main accused and could potentially tamper with evidence. They also filed a charge sheet indicating that she was listed as A-32 and was involved in the financial aspects of the crime.
The case involves significant sums of money. The company Indo Spirit reportedly benefited by over Rs 192 crore through a 12% profit margin until the liquor policy was scrapped. Additionally, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) allegedly received Rs 100 crore in kickbacks. The ED has claimed that the entire liquor policy scam was worth Rs 1,100 crore, with Rs 292.8 crore being linked to Kavitha.
Kavitha filed a bail petition in the Supreme Court on August 12, challenging the Delhi High Court’s rejection of her bail on July 1. The Supreme Court had earlier asked the investigating agencies to submit their responses.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Kavitha, argued that she is the only woman accused in the case. He pointed out that both Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP leader Manish Sisodia have been granted bail. He emphasized that as a woman, Kavitha is entitled to bail under Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
BRS leaders who had previously traveled to Delhi for the last hearing have voiced concerns, claiming that Kavitha has been unjustly imprisoned for over five months.
