Delhi Court Rejects Bail Plea of BRS Leader K Kavitha in Delhi Excise Policy Case

Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Monday rejected the bail plea of BRS leader K Kavitha in cases filed by both the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate related to alleged irregularities in the now-defunct Delhi liquor excise policy for 2021-22.

Kavitha, daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, is currently in judicial custody in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam. Initially arrested by the ED from her residence in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, on March 15, she was later taken into custody by the CBI from Tihar jail on April 11. The ED and CBI have also arrested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection to the same case.

Both the ED and CBI have alleged irregularities in the modification of the excise policy, accusing the prime suspects of granting undue favors to license holders, waiving or reducing license fees, and extending L-1 licenses without proper approval. In a new development, the ED made another arrest in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case on May 3. Vinod Chauhan, accused of transferring cash funds sourced from alleged kickbacks given by the 'South Group' for AAP's election campaign in the Goa Assembly polls of 2022, became the 18th person arrested in the case.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, along with other prominent figures, remains in custody as the investigation continues. The Supreme Court will be hearing arguments regarding Kejriwal's interim bail on May 7, considering the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.​