Excise policy case: Delhi court reserves order on ED plea seeking BRS MLC Kavitha's custody

A Delhi court on Saturday reserved its order on the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) application seeking Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K. Kavitha's custody in connection with the money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam and is likely to pronounce it later in the day.

The agency, which arrested Kavitha, the daughter of party President and former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, on Friday after searches at her residence in Hyderabad, produced her before Special Judge M.K. Nagpal of the Rouse Avenue Court.

Senior advocate Vikram Chaudhary appeared for the BRS leader and special counsel Zoheb Hossain for the ED.

At the outset, Chaudhary accused the ED of flouting the Supreme Court's directions, submitting that Kavitha's arrest is a blatant abuse of power and authority, and disregards the apex court's September 2023 order.

In response, the ED said that it hasn't made any statement in any court, including the Supreme Court, that no coercive action will be taken against Kavitha, and contended that there is enough evidence and statements of witnesses against the arrested lawmaker in the matter.

The agency also accused the BRS leader of destroying evidence and said that it has summoned her husband, Anil Kumar, and house help for March 18 for the extraction of digital data.

"We are also summoning two other persons who gave statements against her to confront her," the ED said.

The judge will likely pronounce the order by 4.30 p.m.

Kavitha has not appeared before the agency since October last year despite summons. Kavitha had also approached the Supreme Court, challenging the summoning of a woman by the ED to its office.

(With inputs from IANS)