Privacy Invaded: Kavitha writes to court for bail; custody extended till April 23

New Delhi: A court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of BRS leader K Kavitha by two weeks in the Delhi excise policy-related money laundering case.

Special judge for ED and CBI cases Kaveri Baweja extended Kavitha’s custody till April 23 after she was produced before the court on the expiry of her judicial remand granted earlier.

The judge had on Monday denied interim bail to Kavitha, saying prima facie she not only destroyed evidence but was also instrumental in influencing witnesses and there is ‘every likelihood’ of her continuing to do so in case the relief is granted.

Kavitha had approached the court for interim bail, saying her 16-year-old son has exams and needs his mother’s ‘moral and emotional support’. The ED had opposed the submission, claiming Kavitha destroyed evidence and influenced witnesses in the case.

Political case

Kavitha wrote a letter to the Justice on the Delhi Liquor Scam saying there is no proof of corruption in this case. It can be thrown away. Speaking while coming out of the court, Kavitha said, “This is a case completely based on the statement. It is a political case, targeting the opposition parties. CBI already recorded my statement in jail.”

“After 2.5 years of ED investigation, they arrested me in March without any proof. Today 95 per cent of the cases under ED/CBI are on the Opposition leaders and when the leader joins the BJP, there is no investigation on them. On the Parliamentary floor, BJP leaders openly threaten the Opposition ‘Chup ho jao, warna ED bejunga’,” Kavitha wrote in the letter.

“Under the importance of my role for my son preparing for board exams. It is a make-or-break year for my son. I fear my absence would impact his life,” said Kavitha, requesting to grant bail.

In the letter, Kavitha said that her reputation has been hit and privacy has been intruded on by displaying her phone number in the media channels. She stated that in the last 2.5 years, there has been mental harassment with multiple raids.

Kavitha was arrested from her Banjara Hills residence on March 15 amid protests by BRS supporters.

The agency has alleged that Kavitha, an MLC and daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, is a key member of the ‘South Group’, which has been accused of paying the ruling AAP in Delhi kickbacks of Rs 100 crores in return for a big share of liquor licences in the national capital.