The sleuths of Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Friday arrested BRS MLC and KCR’s daughter Kalvakuntla Kavitha in connection with the Delhi liquor scam case. She is accused of brokering a deal between the ‘South Group’, a liquor syndicate of South India, and the AAP government in Delhi to influence contracts in their favour.
The arrest followed day-long raids and searches by the ED and Income Tax Department at the residence of the BRS leader. The ED officials reportedly served a search warrant and arrest warrant on Kavitha before taking her into custody. Personal phones of Kavitha and her personal assistant were seized besides several important documents on this occasion.
Reports claim that the ED had booked tickets on a Delhi flight that would depart to Delhi from Hyderabad at 8:45 pm. Notices were also issued to Kavitha’s family members as part of the procedure.
The sensational arrest sparked protests from the BRS leaders and cadre who squatted in front of her house, condemning the ED action against her. Some tense moments were witnessed when Kavitha’s brother and BRS Working President Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao vehemently argued with the ED officials, alleging violation of due procedures. He questioned the central agency sleuths as to how they can attempt to shift Kavitha without any transit warrant.
KTR also alleged that the arrest was deliberately made on Friday evening to pre-empt Kavitha’s advocates from seeking any relief from the judiciary. He said the action was wantonly done on Friday evening as the courts won’t be working on Saturday and Sunday.
Interestingly, Kavitha’s arrest was made at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a roadshow within the Malkajgiri Parliamentary constituency in Hyderabad on Friday evening.
Arrest under PMLA: ED
As expected, the ED action against Kavitha assumed some political colour as it came just 24 hours before the election code is expected to come into force. The Election Commission of India is likely to announce the notification and schedule for the Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections for states like Andhra Pradesh on Saturday afternoon.
The BRS is seeing this as a deliberate ploy by the BJP to tarnish their image in an attempt to gain some political mileage ahead of the elections.
The ED, in its arrest order, stated that the arrest was made under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Kavitha’s husband Anil Kumar was duly informed before initiating their action, it said.
As per available information, Kavitha will be lodged at the ED’s central office on Friday night after reaching Delhi. At around 11 am on Saturday, she is expected to be produced in the ED court. In the event of the ED court sending her on judicial remand, she will be shifted to the Tihar jail.
Meanwhile, Kavitha has decided to challenge the ED action in Supreme Court on Saturday. According to BRS sources, her advocates are expected to move a petition before the Chief Justice of India court tomorrow. Kavitha’s counsel are likely to argue on the grounds that the arrest goes against the ED’s undertaking in the past that it would not initiate action against her during the pendency of her petition in the Supreme Court. Kavitha had already approached the apex court, challenging the ED naming her in the liquor scam case.