A Delhi court on Monday remanded Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) leader K Kavitha to judicial custody till April 23, in connection with her alleged involvement in the Delhi Excise Policy scam case
The order was passed by Special Judge (PC Act) Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Courts.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) produced Kavitha before the trial court this morning after her CBI custody expired today.
The national agency sought 14-day custody of the accused on grounds that she was not answering CBI’s queries.
Appeared for Kavitha, Advocate Nitesh Rana opposed the CBI’s request for further custody.
He contended that as per CBI, Kavitha has not answered as per their will and therefore, she cannot be sent to judicial custody. But she cannot answer in a customised manner.
The Special Judge then sent Kavitha to judicial custody till April 23.
On April 12, the Special Judge had remanded K Kavita to CBI custody till April 15. The daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao is currently lodged in Tihar Jail, following her arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
After hearing the arguments by the CBI and the Counsel appearing for BRS leader K Kavitha on the application, Special Judge Kaveri Baweja passed the order. During the hearing, CBI told the court that K Kavitha was not cooperating in the probe and was evasive in her replies. Seeking 5 days custody, the CBI mentioned that K Kavitha is one of the key conspirators in the liquor policy scam case.
Meanwhile, Advocate Nitesh Rana, appearing for the BRS leader opposed the CBI’s plea, terming the arrest illegal. He also accused the investigation agency of violating K Kavitha’s fundamental rights. The CBI officials had recently interrogated K Kavitha inside prison after obtaining permission from a special court.
Earlier on March 15, the Enforcement Directorate arrested the BRS leader from her Banjara Hills residence in Hyderabad. On April 8, the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court dismissed the interim bail application moved by BRS leader K Kavitha in the money-laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy.
The BRS leader on April 6, moved a city court urging it to repeal its order that permitted the CBI to interrogate her in Tihar jail. Advocate Nitesh Rana representing K Kavitha alleged that the CBI thwarted the due process of law by filing a plea that sought permission to question her behind her back. He said that the leader has grave apprehension that CBI may not have divulged true facts in order to obtain a favourable order from the court.
The counsel asked the court to suspend its April 5 order that allowed Kavitha’s questioning in judicial custody until her stand was heard and taken into account. Nonetheless, special Judge Kaveri Baweja did not grant any interim relief to Kavitha for Enforcement Directorate (ED) and CBI cases.