Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Friday “unconditionally” apologised over his remarks on BRS leader K Kavitha getting bail in a money-laundering case.

The apology comes a day after the Supreme Court reprimanded the chief minister over his comments claiming the bail for the BRS leader was due to a “deal” between ex-Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s party and the ruling BJP.

The top court flagged deep concern over the “manner of a statement” made by him. “Have you read what (he) said… just read… such statements by a Chief Minister might rightly create apprehension,” it said.

“Should a person holding a constitutional post make such statements? There should be mutual respect (between politicians and judiciary)… how can anyone say we pass orders for political reasons?” the court said, “If you do not respect (us) then we will send (your) trial elsewhere,” it added.

On Friday, the Congress leader took to X and said he had the highest regard and faith in the Indian Judiciary. 

“I understand that certain press reports dated 29th August, 2024 containing comments attributed to me have given the impression that I am questioning the judicial wisdom of the Hon’ble Court. I reiterate that I am a firm believer of the judicial process.I unconditionally express my regret for the statements reflected in the press reports. The remarks attributed to me in such reports have been taken out of context. I have unconditional respect & highest regard for the Judiciary & its independence. As a firm believer in the Constitution of India and its ethos, I have and continue to hold the Judiciary in its highest esteem,” he wrote.

After Ms Kavitha was granted bail in the Delhi liquor policy case, Mr Reddy said, “It is a fact that BRS worked for the victory of the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha poll. There is also talk Kavitha got bail because of the deal between BRS and BJP”

Earlier in March, when the Enforcement Directorate arrested the BRS leader in Hyderabad in connection with the case, the chief minister labelled it a “soap opera” and hit out at BRS leader KCR and Prime Minister Modi for playing “political dramas” in the state.

K Kavitha, in jail since March over alleged corruption and money laundering charge in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case, was released from jail on Tuesday evening, hours after Supreme Court granted conditional bail to the Telangana politician.

BRS workers and supporters played drums and burst crackers as she stepped out of the prison complex. Ms Kavitha’s brother and BRS working president KT Rama Rao was also present.

“We are fighters, we will fight it out legally and politically. They have only made the BRS and KCR’s team unbreakable,” said the combative leader in her first comments after walking out of the jail.

Earlier today, the top court said 46-year-old Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader’s custody was no longer required as both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have completed their probe against her.

“The appellant (Kavitha) is directed to be released forthwith on bail … on furnishing bail bonds in the sum of Rs 10 lakh in each of the cases,” the bench said, while allowing her appeals against the July 1 verdict of the Delhi High Court which had denied her bail in the two cases.

The two central agencies came in for some sharp criticism over the “fairness” of their investigation, with the top court observing “Sorry to see this state of affairs”.

“The prosecution has to be fair. You can’t pick and choose anyone. What is this fairness? A person who incriminates himself has been made a witness,” the bench said, adding, “Tomorrow you will pick up anyone as you choose and leave anyone as you choose as an accused? Very fair and reasonable discretion!”.

Senior lawyer Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Ms Kavitha, argued that the probe against her was complete and the charge sheet and prosecution complaint have already been filed.

He also referred to the August 9 top court verdict granting bail to co-accused and senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia in the two cases.

The ED had arrested Ms Kavitha from her Banjara Hills residence in Hyderabad on March 15 and the CBI arrested her from Tihar jail on April 11.

 

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses from the CBI and ED on BRS leader K Kavitha’s pleas seeking bail in corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. A bench of justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan agreed to hear Ms Kavitha’s pleas challenging the Delhi High Court’s July 1 verdict denying her bail in these cases.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Ms Kavitha, told the bench that she has been in custody for around five months and the chargesheet and prosecution complaint have been filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) respectively.

A prosecution complaint is the ED’s equivalent of a chargesheet.

Mr Rohatgi said there were around 500 witnesses in both these cases.

Contending that she was entitled to bail, Mr Rohatgi referred to the Supreme Court’s verdict and order passed on the pleas filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia.

The top court had granted interim bail to Mr Kejriwal in the money laundering case linked to the alleged scam. Mr Sisodia was granted bail in both the corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

Mr Rohatgi said Ms Kavitha’s case was covered by these orders of the top court.

“We will issue notice,” the bench said.

“May I pray for interim bail,” Mr Rohatgi said.

The bench observed, “Not without hearing them (CBI and ED)”.

The bench then issued notices to the CBI and the ED seeking their responses on Ms Kavitha’s pleas and posted the matter for hearing on August 20.

The high court had on July 1 dismissed Ms Kavitha’s bail pleas in both the cases, saying she was prima facie one of the main conspirators in the criminal conspiracy related to the formation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

The CBI and the ED have lodged separate cases pertaining to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and implementation of the policy.

The ED arrested Ms Kavitha (46) from her Banjara Hills residence in Hyderabad on March 15. The CBI arrested her on April 11 in connection with the corruption case linked to the alleged scam.

Ms Kavitha has denied the allegations.

While dismissing her bail pleas, the high court had said no case for grant of regular bail was made for now as the investigation is at a crucial stage.

It had rejected her plea for relief on the grounds of being a woman, saying as a well-educated person and a former MP, she cannot be equated to a vulnerable female, and the court cannot lose sight of the “serious allegations” against her.

This “court is of the opinion that K Kavitha was prima facie one of the main conspirators in the criminal conspiracy hatched in relation to formulation and implementation of Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22,” the high court had said.

In the high court, Ms Kavitha had challenged the May 6 order of a trial court which had dismissed her bail applications in the CBI’s corruption case as well as the ED’s money-laundering case.

Before the high court in the ED case, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader, daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, had said she had “nothing to do” with the excise policy and there was a criminal conspiracy against her “orchestrated by the ruling party at the Centre with the active connivance of the ED”.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in its chargesheet filed against Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha, has stated that she was involved in the manipulation and tweaking of the Delhi Excise Policy.

During the investigation, the role of the accused, Ms Kavitha has surfaced not only in the collection of upfront money but also in the transfer of ill-gotten money to Goa through the Hawala channel, stated CBI.

It has been revealed that her co-accused associates, viz., Abhishek Boinpally and PA Ashok Kaushik, were involved in the transfer of ill-gotten money to Goa through the Hawala channel.

It has been revealed that the accused Arvind Kumar Singh, who was posted and functioning as Production Controller-Cum-Commercial Head of India Ahead News, owned by the accused Mootha Gautham and Abhishek Boinpally, the co-accused associate of the accused K Kavitha, has acted as a conduit of the accused persons of the South Group and played a major role in transfer of ill-gotten money of Rs 7.10 crore to Goa from Delhi through Hawala Channel.

The Rouse Avenue Court on Monday took cognizance of the Supplementary chargesheet filed against BRS leader K Kavitha by the CBI in the Delhi Excise Policy case.

Special judge Kaveri Baweja, after taking cognizance of the supplementary charge sheet directed to produce Kavitha before the court through video conferencing on July 26.

The court has directed us to supply a copy of the supplementary charge sheet to the counsel for Kavitha and others.

The matter has been listed for scrutiny of documents on the next date of hearing.

The Court on July 8 reserved an order on cognizance of the charge sheet (third supplementary charge sheet in this case.)

Advocate DP Singh had submitted that cognizance of the offence has already been taken. We are aware that a policy was made and the influence of South Group was there. All key people in the group worked under Kavitha’s command.

He also read over the statements of TDP MP Magunta S Reddy, who met Delhi CM Kejriwal on March 16, 2021. His son, Raghav Magunta, also confirmed this.

He also submitted that there is a list of statements we are relying upon, including Sarath Reddy, Gopi Kumaran and Raghav Magunta. There are many people who will ultimately speak against Kavitha.

cognizance of the offence is already taken, this charge sheet is only for the limited purpose of consideration and summoning of this accused, DP Singh said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a charge sheet against BRS leader K Kavitha in the Delhi Excise Policy case on June 6. This is the third supplementary charge sheet filed by the CBI in the Delhi Excise Policy case.

Kavitha is in judicial custody in both CBI and ED cases. She was first arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 15. Thereafter, she was arrested by the CBI on April 11.

On July 1, the Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed the bail petitions moved by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha in CBI and ED cases related to the Excise Policy case.

The plea moved by Kavitha stated that she is a mother of two children, one of whom is a minor presently under shock and is undergoing medical supervision. Kavitha, in her fresh bail plea, alleges that there have been attempts to drag her into the scandal by the members of the ruling party at the Centre.

She, through bail plea, submitted that the entire case of the Enforcement Directorate hinges upon statements made by the approver, witnesses or co-accused under Section 50 of the PMLA. The Prosecution Complaints do not put forth a single document which corroborates the statements. There is not a single piece of evidence which points to the guilt of the applicant.

She further stated that the arrest of the applicant is illegal as Section 19 of the PMLA has not been complied with.

Neither has any corroboration to the allegation of the actual cash transaction nor any money trail is forthcoming, therefore, the satisfaction of guilt as expressed in his arrest order is merely a sham and a pretence, she stated.

The ED and the CBI had alleged that irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy, undue favours were extended to licence holders, the licence fee was waived or reduced and the L-1 licence was extended without the competent authority’s approval.

The beneficiaries diverted “illegal” gains to the accused officials and made false entries in their books of account to evade detection, the probe agencies said.

As per the allegations, the Excise Department had decided to refund the earnest money deposit of about Rs 30 crore to a successful tenderer against the set rules.

Even though there was no enabling provision, a waiver on tendered licence fees was allowed from December 28, 2021, to January 27, 2022, due to COVID-19, the probe agency said and there was an alleged loss of Rs 144.36 crore to the exchequer.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

A Delhi court on Thursday referred BRS leader K Kavitha, lodged in Tihar jail in two cases related to the alleged excise scam, to AIIMS for a medical check-up.

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC was taken to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital after she developed some gynaecological problem and high fever on Tuesday. After staying in the hospital for two hours, she was sent back to jail, an official said.

“Kavitha was taken to DDU Hospital after she developed some gynaecological problem and high fever around 4.30 pm. She was kept under observation and underwent some tests,” an official said.

Sources said the BRS leader often has gynaecological issues in prison and a team of jail doctors looks after her.

The court passed the order after Kavitha claimed her health monitoring tools were not working properly and there were discrepancies in the result.

Kavitha was produced before the court through video conference on expiry of her judicial custody when she made the submission and sought examination at a private hospital.

The judge ordered her examination at AIIMS, Delhi and asked the hospital to file a report on her medical condition.

The judge, meanwhile, extended her judicial custody till July 22.

Kavitha was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case on March 15 from her Banjara Hills residence in Hyderabad. On April 11, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested her from Tihar jail in a corruption case linked to the alleged scam.

Earlier this month, the Delhi High Court had denied her bail in the money laundering and corruption cases linked to the alleged liquor scam.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed BRS leader K Kavitha’s bail pleas in two cases of corruption and money laundering linked to the alleged excise policy scam.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who had reserved the order on the two bail pleas of K Kavitha on May 28, rejected the petitions.

A detailed order is awaited.

K Kavitha had challenged the trial court’s May 6 order by which her bail applications in the CBI’s corruption case as well as the ED’s money-laundering case were dismissed.

K Kavitha’s lawyer submitted that of the 50 accused in the excise case, she is the lone woman and urged the court to consider granting her bail as law keeps women on a different pedestal.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed Kavitha’s bail pleas, saying she is powerful enough to influence witnesses.

Ms Kavitha is in judicial custody in the two cases.

The “scam” pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22 that was later scrapped.

The ED arrested Ms Kavitha (46) from her Banjara Hills residence in Hyderabad on March 15. The CBI arrested her in the Tihar jail.

In her bail plea in the ED case, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader, daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, had said she had “nothing to do” with the excise policy and there was a criminal conspiracy against her “orchestrated by the ruling party at the Centre with the active connivance of the ED”.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The Delhi High Court is scheduled to pass judgment on bail petitions moved by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha in CBI and ED cases related to the Excise Policy case on July 1, 2024.

The bench of Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma, after hearing submissions from all sides, decided to reserve the order in the matter on May 28, 2024.

For K Kavitha, Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhari and Advocate Nitesh Rana argued in the matter. Advocates Mohit Rao and Deepak Nagar also appeared for K Kavitha. Advocate DP Singh appeared for the CBI, and Advocate Zoheb Hossain appeared for the Enforcement Directorate.

The CBI, while opposing the bail plea, stated that further investigation is at a very crucial stage on certain key aspects, including the involvement of other public servants and private persons as well as the flow of the ill-gotten money. If the accused petitioner is released on bail, there is every likelihood that she will thwart the investigation, more specifically when she fails to meet the ‘triple test,’ as laid down by the Constitutional Courts in a catena of decisions.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) also opposed the bail plea and stated that in the case of an offence of money laundering, mere routine conditions that ensure the presence of the accused during the trial or protect the evidence are not enough because of the trans-border nature of the offence and the influence that may be exercised by the accused. An accused can anonymously remove the money trail using the technology available today, making the investigation and trial infructuous.

The Delhi High Court had earlier issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate and CBI on the bail petitions moved by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha in the money laundering case pertaining to the scrapped Excise policy of Delhi.

Recently, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a supplementary prosecution complaint (chargesheet) in the Excise Policy money laundering case in Rouse Avenue Court.

The chargesheet was filed against BRS leader K Kavitha and other accused, namely Chanpreet Singh, Damodar, Prince Singh, and Arvind Kumar.

The plea moved by K Kavitha stated that she is the mother of two children, one of whom is a minor presently under shock and undergoing medical supervision. Kavitha, in her fresh bail plea, alleges that there have been attempts to drag her into the scandal by the members of the ruling party at the Centre.

She, through the bail plea, submitted that the entire case of the Enforcement Directorate hinges upon statements made by the approver, witnesses, or co-accused under Section 50 of the PMLA. The Prosecution Complaints do not provide a single document that corroborates the statements. There is not a single piece of evidence that points to the guilt of the Applicant.

She further stated that the arrest of the applicant is illegal as Section 19 of the PMLA has not been complied with.

Neither has any corroboration to the allegation of the actual cash transaction nor any money trail is forthcoming, therefore, the satisfaction of guilt as expressed in her Arrest Order is merely a sham and a pretense, she stated.

On May 6, The Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi dismissed the bail petitions moved by Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha in connection with CBI and ED cases related to the Excise Policy case.

BRS leader K Kavitha was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 15, 2024, and by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on April 11, 2024.

Earlier, CBI, through a remand application, stated that “Kavitha Kalvakuntla was required to be arrested in the instant case to conduct her custodial interrogation for confronting her with the evidence and witnesses to unearth the larger conspiracy hatched among the accused, suspect persons regarding the formulation and implementation of the Excise Policy, as well as to establish the money trail of ill-gotten money generated and to establish the role of other accused/suspect persons, including public servants, as well as to unearth the facts which are in her exclusive knowledge.”

The CBI inquiry was recommended based on the findings of the Delhi Chief Secretary’s report filed in July showing prima facie violations of the GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR)-1993, Delhi Excise Act-2009, and Delhi Excise Rules-2010, officials said.

The ED and the CBI had alleged that irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy, undue favours were extended to license holders, the license fee was waived or reduced, and the L-1 license was extended without the competent authority’s approval.

The beneficiaries diverted “illegal” gains to the accused officials and made false entries in their books of account to evade detection, the probe agencies said.

As per the allegations, the Excise Department had decided to refund the earnest money deposit of about Rs 30 crore to a successful tenderer against the set rules.

Even though there was no enabling provision, a waiver on tendered license fees was allowed from December 28, 2021, to January 27, 2022, due to COVID-19, the probe agency said, and there was an alleged loss of Rs 144.36 crore to the exchequer.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

A Delhi court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of BRS leader K Kavitha, who has been arrested in a money laundering case related to alleged excise policy scam also involving Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, till May 20.

Special Judge for ED and CBI cases, Kaveri Baweja, passed the order after K Kavitha was produced before the court on expiry of her judicial custody granted in the case earlier.

The judge, meanwhile, also reserved for May 20 the order on whether to take cognisance of a fresh charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the case.

During the hearing on Tuesday, the central probe agency told the judge that there was sufficient evidence in the prosecution complaint, ED’s equivalent to a charge sheet, against K Kavitha to put her on trial.

The ED on Friday filed the nearly 200-page prosecution complaint along with annexures under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

K Kavitha, an MLC of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party, three employees of a company that handled AAP’s assembly election campaign in Goa (Chariot Productions Media Pvt Ltd) — Damodar Sharma, Prince Kumar and Chanpreet Singh — and a former employee of India Ahead news channel Arvind Singh have been named as accused in the latest charge sheet, sources said.

The federal agency had arrested 46-year-old K Kavitha, the daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, from her Banjara Hills residence in Hyderabad on March 15.

Chanpreet was arrested on April 15 and it was alleged by the agency that he “managed” cash funds for AAP’s Goa poll campaign in 2022.

The three Chariot Productions employees too were allegedly involved in the movement and handling of “bribe” funds paid by the ‘South Group’ through ‘Angadiyas’ and hawala route for the party’s Goa campaign, according to the agency.

Arvind Singh, the commercial head and production controller of India Ahead, was arrested by the CBI in this case in May last year for alleged transfer of funds considered “kickbacks” of this “scam”.

This is the seventh charge sheet filed by the ED in this case in which it has arrested 18 people so far, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was given interim bail by the Supreme Court on Friday.

The ED has alleged that K Kavitha was a key member of the ‘South Group’ that has been accused of paying the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged kickbacks of Rs 100 crore in return for a big share of liquor licences in the national capital, as part of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy for 2021-22.

The agency earlier said K Kavitha was “one of the kingpins, a key conspirator and beneficiary of the Delhi excise policy scam”.

The excise case pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities. Subsequently, the ED filed its money laundering case on August 22, 2022, taking cognisance of the CBI FIR that was lodged on August 17, 2022.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Hyderabad:

Dismissing some survey reports suggesting that there would be a “hung” assembly in Telangana after the November 30 polls, BRS MLC K Kavitha said on Saturday that her party is going to triumph in the elections while Congress and others win only in surveys.

Replying to a host of questions from netizens on “X”, she also said with the blessings of the Telangana people, BRS is going to win between 95 and 105 seats in the 119-member house.

“They played the same trick in 2018. Many surveys were thrown at the people in 2018 as well .. but BRS won with a thumping majority. Let Congress & others win the surveys this time also & BRS will win the election,” she replied when asked about some surveys’ results on the hung assembly.

On Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks that the BJP, if it wins the polls in Telangana, will make a BC candidate as chief minister, she ridiculed that the saffron party replaced a BC leader with an OC (open category) person as state unit head. The Central government also refused to conduct an OBC caste census across the country, she said.

“BJP refuses to give reservations to OBC women. BJP refuses to form BC welfare ministry at the Centre. BJP refuses to give a 33% OBC quota in parliament & assemblies. Now the same BJP says that they’ll make BC a CM…what I see is just another election Gimmick,” she slammed.

When asked who her favourite politician other than her father (K Chandrasekhar Rao), she replied it is West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

K Kavitha said the arrest of former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu, is “unfortunate” and her sympathies are with his family. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

BRS MLC K. Kavitha participating in Bathukamma festivities at Solapur, in Maharashtra, on Sunday.

hyderabad

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K. Kavitha visited Solapur in Maharashtra on Sunday and participated in Bathukamma festival organised by the people from Telangana living there. She interacted with workers in the textile and beedi rolling industries.

She arranged Bathukamma at the residence of BRS leader Nagesh Walyal and also at Dasharath Gope’s home.

After participating in Bathukamma rally from Datta Mandir, she participated in the celebrations at Punjal Maidan.

Earlier, speaking to mediapersons, she said opinion polls during the elections were conducted in different methods and there is no need to give weightage to those conducting such polls while sitting in the television studios. Only the poll of farmers and women are important and such polls have already indicated that BRS is set to win the election with a huge majority for the third time in a row.

She explained that the BRS government had empowered farmers, women, youth, SC, ST and OBC communities with various interventions during the last nine years and the party is confident that the good work put in by its government would ensure a win for it again. The Congress party had copied its schemes and announced six guarantees with some changes here and there but there is nobody to guarantee those promises, after Karnataka’s recent experience, she said.

On Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), she said the party candidates’ deposits were forfeited in 105 constituencies during the 2018 Assembly elections and the number would be higher this time.