Delhi liquor policy scam: Kavitha questioned for 10 hours, asked to re-appear on March 21st

Hyderabad: Kalvakuntla Kavitha– daughter of Telangana Chief Minister and BRS MLC was questioned for 10 hours by the Enforcement Directorate in the now scrapped Delhi Liquor Policy Scam. For the second time he appeared before the ED sleuths on March 20th and was left off in the late hours. The investigating agency has once again summoned her to appear for questioning on 21st March. Meanwhile, Hyderabad business man and accused Arun Ramachandra Pillai's custody has been extended by another 14 days.

Kavitha was confronted with Arun Ramachandra Pillai's statements during her 10 hours of questioning by ED on Monday.

It is pertinent to note that Kavitha moved the Supreme Court for an urgent hearing. She claimed that as a woman, she cannot be summoned by the ED. She said the sleuths must visit her instead. The plea is likely to be heard on March 24th. Interestingly ED sleuths had filed a caveat in Supreme Court requesting the court not to pass any order on Kavitha’s plea without hearing the agency.

The probe against the 44 year politician, has kicked off a political storm between the BRS and BJP. Kavitha is in Delhi and accompanied by her brother– BRS working president and Minister K.T. Rama Rao, MPs and other BRS ministers.

Earlier, she appeared before the ED on March 11 where her phone was confiscated and was asked to re-appear on March 16. However she refused to re-appear on March 16th, her legal team has submitted documents as sought by the investigating agency. Kavitha’s legal team has submitted documents sought by the agency and also conveyed to ED that the matter is pending before the Supreme Court.

What led her to summons was -Hyderabad businessman Arun Ramachandra Pillai, a close associate of Kavitha, allegedly spilled the beans against her and South Cartel during questioning by the Enforcement Directorate. He told ED that he was acting on behalf of MLC Kavitha. He told investigators that the 30% stake he held in the Indo sports company was not his, but Kavitha’s. ED followed it up by issuing summons to Kavitha.

A source told NewsMeter that Butchi babu was the key person who devised the entire system to send Rs 100 Crore kickbacks to Delhi on behalf of the South Group. “He devised a plan in which he sent Rs 100 crore to Delhi and claimed credit notes with the help of hawala operators. While he did this he served as the auditor to Kavitha and other biggies in two Telugu-speaking states,” he added.

The ‘South group’ allegedly led by Kavitha, former MD Aurobindo P Sarath Reddy, and YSRCP Ongole MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy and his son Raghava. It is pertinent to note, Kavitha changed the device of both her phone numbers 10 times. At least 36 accused and suspects involved in the scam have destroyed or used 170 phones, the ED’s remand report claimed. ED has named Kalvakuntla Kavitha as one of the key members of the ‘South Group’. ED said arrested businessman Vijay Nair, on behalf of AAP leaders, received kickbacks to the tune of Rs. 100 Crore from ‘South Group’.

Kavitha held two conferences in Delhi on the pending women reservation bill. During the conference, Kavitha said that the investigations by the ED are BJP's modus operandi before elections. "Whenever there is an election, the teams of ED begin investigations. It's not just me, at least 15-17 MLAs in Telangana have been targeted by central agencies. Well, we are not persons who fear such investigations. We know how to handle the situation, just like how we fought for separate Telangana", said Kavitha.