New Delhi:
Bharat Rashtra Samiti leader K Kavita will be exempted from questioning by central investigation agency Enforcement Directorate till March 13. After his petition, the Supreme Court increased the relief. The 45-year-old, who is also the daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, is wanted for questioning in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor scam.
In her petition in the apex court, Ms Kavita had said that she should be interrogated at her home. He had argued that women have the right to privacy and they cannot be called to the ED office.
Last week, the Central Bureau of Investigation had asked him to appear for questioning, which he did not do citing several “pressing” public engagements and a pending petition in the Supreme Court.
This was the second time that a BRS leader did not attend the summons for questioning. The central agency last interrogated him in December 2022.
She had gone to the Supreme Court in March last year seeking relief from the Enforcement Directorate’s interrogation. The court had given him temporary relief, which was extended today.
Central agencies have alleged that Ms Kavita is part of the “South Cartel” that benefited from bribes in Delhi’s liquor policy, leading to the arrest of Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia. This policy was withdrawn after a political storm.
The CBI argues that liquor companies were involved in formulating the excise duty policy, which would have given them a profit of 12 per cent. A liquor lobby called the “South Group” had paid the bribes, a portion of which was passed on to public servants. The Enforcement Directorate alleged embezzlement of bribes.
