BRS lawmaker K Kavitha, arrested in March in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam, allegedly wiped clean eight mobile phones that might have contained evidence, according to the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The agency included her in a supplementary chargesheet, revealing that she booked an ₹10 lakh room at a five-star hotel.
The ED accused Ms. Kavitha of conspiring with the ‘South group’ to pay ₹100 crore to Delhi’s ruling AAP in exchange for liquor licenses. They also claimed she plotted to acquire a stake in Indo Spirits, which received a wholesale license for the ₹100 crore payment, resulting in a 12 percent profit margin and a profit of ₹192.8 crore until the policy was scrapped.
“These kickbacks were paid in exchange for undue favours, ensuring stakes for the ‘South group’ in different licenses, directing Pernod Ricard, the largest manufacturer, to the wholesaler of the ‘South group’, and allowing control over multiple retail zones,” the ED stated in its document.
The agency argued that the ₹100 crore kickback was transferred to Goa via illegal routes, allegedly for the AAP’s election expenses, thus constituting “proceeds of crime.”
The ED also claimed that Ms. Kavitha and other ‘South group’ members, including Sameer Mahendru, actively participated in forming Indo Spirits to recoup and launder these proceeds. Access to Pernod Ricard India’s stocks led to artificially high profits.
“The entire profit (12 percent) of ₹192.8 crore resulting from these criminal activities constitutes ‘proceeds of crime’… K Kavitha is involved in various processes and activities related to these proceeds amounting to ₹292.8 crore,” the agency declared.
The ED alleged these actions caused a direct loss of ₹581 crore to the Delhi government.
In a fresh 177-page chargesheet filed on Monday, listing Ms. Kavitha as Accused No. 32, the federal agency said she submitted eight phones: two iPhone 13 Minis, two iPhone 13s, two iPhone 14 Pros, and another two iPhone 13s. When asked if she had formatted or removed data from these devices, the agency stated she denied doing so.
The ED later confronted Ms. Kavitha with a forensic report indicating at least one device had been formatted. Despite this, she continued to deny tampering with the phone. When pressed further, the Enforcement Directorate stated she became evasive.
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The chargesheet was filed shortly after a city court extended her judicial custody till July 3. Last week, both the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation denied her bail pleas in money laundering cases linked to the alleged liquor scam.
