New Delhi:

A New Delhi court on Monday denied interim bail to BRS leader K Kavitha in a money laundering case related to Delhi’s excise tax policy.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja dismissed the plea, saying it was not appropriate to extend her interim bail at the moment.

Kavitha has applied to the court for interim bail, saying her 16-year-old son is taking exams and needs “moral and emotional support” from his mother.

The Enforcement Directorate opposed the submission, claiming that K Kavitha destroyed evidence and influenced witnesses in the case.

The agency alleged that K Kavitha was a key member of the ‘Southern Group’, which was accused of paying Rs 100 crore kickback to Delhi’s ruling AAP in exchange for a lion’s share of liquor licenses in the national capital.

K Kavitha, 46, was arrested on March 15 from her residence in Banjara Hills amid protests by BRS supporters.

The next day, she was sent to the Law Enforcement Directorate to be detained for seven days. Her custodial interrogation was later extended by three days. She was sent to 14-day judicial custody on Tuesday last week.

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