The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is currently conducting raids at the residence of K Kavitha’s relatives in Hyderabad, sources told ABP News on Saturday. Kavitha, a leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, is presently in custody in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case.
It is to be noted that today, Saturday (March 22), marks the end of Kavitha’s remand in the case.
The reasons behind the central agency’s raid remain unclear at this juncture. Sources suggest that the ED will ascertain shortly the specific case linked to the ongoing raids.
The raids commenced this morning and are taking place at two different locations in Hyderabad. According to sources, the premises of Kavitha’s brother’s daughter-in-law are among those being searched.
In a development on Friday, the Supreme Court directed the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) to seek bail from the trial court in the money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy. The bench, comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, MM Sundresh, and Bela M Trivedi, instructed Kavitha to follow due procedure and approach the trial court for bail.
While responding to senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who represented Kavitha, the bench stated that the petition challenging certain provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act would be considered along with pending matters.
Sibal raised concerns about arrests based on the statement of an approver, to which the court indicated it would not delve into the case’s specifics presently.
Kavitha, daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, remains in ED custody until March 23.
The ED alleges that Kavitha colluded with senior Aam Aadmi Party leaders, including party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former minister Manish Sisodia, to gain advantages in the Delhi liquor policy by providing ₹100 crore to the political party. Kavitha has denied these accusations, labeling the ED’s actions against her as ‘unlawful’.
Last year, the ED had interrogated Kavitha thrice in this case, and she was summoned again this year, although she did not appear, citing protection from coercive action as per a Supreme Court directive.
Earlier, Kavitha had also faced questioning by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding the same matter.
