Excise Scam: Kavitha Faces CBI Custody Questioning

Based on the information provided, the court in New Delhi has reserved its decision on the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) request for five-day custody of K Kavitha, a leader of the Bharat Rasthra Samithi (BRS), who was arrested in connection with a corruption case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. Kavitha is the daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and is currently being held in Tihar Jail after her arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

During the court hearing, Special Judge Kaveri Baweja reserved the decision after listening to the arguments presented by the CBI and Kavitha’s counsel. The CBI claimed that Kavitha was not cooperating with the investigation and was evasive in her answers. Kavitha’s lawyer, Advocate Nitesh Rana, opposed the CBI’s request and called the arrest illegal, accusing the agency of violating Kavitha’s fundamental rights.

The CBI presented Kavitha in court and requested five-day police custody. They recently questioned her in prison with the permission of a special court, focusing on WhatsApp chats retrieved from the phone of co-accused Buchi Babu and documents related to a land deal. An amount of Rs 100 crore was allegedly paid to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as kickbacks to influence the excise policy in favor of a liquor lobby. Kavitha was arrested by the ED from her residence in Hyderabad on March 15 and has been in judicial custody since then.