ED again summons MLC Kavitha for questioning in Delhi liquor policy scam

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate has summoned BRS leader K Kavitha for a fresh round of questioning in connection with its probe into the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case, official sources said on Monday.

The 45-year-old daughter of former Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao has been asked to depose before the agency in Delhi on Tuesday, they said.

Sources, however, said that she may not depose before the agency and has communicated her decision to the investigating officer through an email.

Kavitha was questioned thrice in this case last year and the central agency recorded her statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The third time questioning on March 21was different from earlier hearings as a belligerent BRS MLC displayed her old phones while heading to the ED office.

ED's investigation into the scam found that BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha changed the device of her both phone numbers 10 times. Likewise, Hyderabad-based Aurobindo Group Managing Director P Sarath Reddy, who was earlier arrested by ED, reportedly changed his phone device nine times. ED said the accused and suspects destroyed digital evidence to impede the investigation.

“An attempt was also made to see that the evidence about the commission of this scam running into thousands of crores was either destroyed which would contain valuable digital data and material to prove further kickbacks,” ED said.

Pertinently, major evidence related to liquor scam were stored in digital formats both on mobile phones and laptops, However, as soon as the scam was unearthed and the case was handed over to investigating agency, a large number of digital devices were found to be destroyed or changed by the suspects.

According to ED, at least, 36 accused and suspects involved in the scam have destroyed or used 170 phones (as per IMEI analysis).