ED Arrests K Kavitha in Delhi Excise Policy Scam, ‘It’s An Illegal Arrest’, She Says In Her First Reaction

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha has vehemently denounced her arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as “illegal.” Expressing her defiance, Kavitha made her stance clear just before appearing in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court. The arrest took place at 5:20 pm on Friday, with the central agency apprehending her from her residence in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.

In the official arrest memo, an ED investigation officer asserted, “I believe that Smt. Kalvakuntla Kavitha, wife of Mr. D R Anil Kumar, residing at H. No. 8-2316/S/H, Road No 14, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana-500034, has been guilty of an offence punishable under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (15 of 2003).”

Kavitha, daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, now joins the ranks of high-profile leaders facing legal consequences. Alongside her, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are already incarcerated in the same case.

The ED alleges Kavitha’s connection to a ‘South Group’ lobby of liquor traders, purportedly seeking influence in the now-defunct Delhi excise policy. It’s claimed that Vijay Nair, one of the accused, received kickbacks totalling at least ₹100 crores on behalf of AAP leaders from the ‘South Group’, purportedly controlled by Sarath Reddy, Kavitha, and Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy.

This development unfolded nearly two months after the ED issued a summons to the 45-year-old BRS leader. Kavitha had previously undergone questioning three times last year, with the central agency recording her statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Prior to the ED’s actions, Kavitha was interrogated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the case.

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