BRS leader K Kavitha, daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case linked to the Delhi liquor policy probe. The arrest followed hours of raids at her Hyderabad residence on Friday. Kavitha is set to be brought to Delhi for further questioning, as reported by news agencies. The ED and income tax officials conducted searches at her residence earlier, prompting protests from BRS supporters. Kavitha’s brother and former Telangana minister KT Rama Rao arrived at her residence after ED officials reportedly took her into custody.
Kavitha’s husband D Anil Kumar was present at the residence during the search.
This arrest marks the third high-profile detention in the same case, following those of Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, both from the Aam Aadmi Party. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is also under investigation in connection with the case, having missed several recent summons by the ED.
Regarding K Kavitha’s connection to the Delhi liquor policy case, she allegedly played a significant role in the ‘south cartel’ implicated in the scam. The cartel included Hyderabad businessman Sarath Reddy, YSR Congress MP Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, his son Raghav Magunta Reddy, businessman Arun Pillai, Abhishek Boinpally, and chartered accountant Butchibabu. The south cartel reportedly received undue benefits and additional retail licenses in the now-defunct Delhi liquor policy.
Kavitha had been summoned multiple times for questioning and had skipped at least two recent summons. She was questioned three times last year, and her statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Vijay Nair, an accused linked to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the case, allegedly promised the south cartel a share in the Delhi liquor business. There were claims of a political understanding between K Kavitha, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia. Butchibabu stated that Kavitha met Vijay Nair on March 19-20, 2021.
Senior BRS leader and former minister Prasanth Reddy informed reporters that Kavitha was scheduled to be taken to Delhi on an 8.45 pm flight, suggesting that authorities had decided to take her into custody beforehand and even booked a flight ticket for her prior to arriving at her residence.
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