K Kavitha implicated in manipulation of Delhi liquor policy: CBI chargesheet
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The CBI has filed a chargesheet against Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha, alleging her involvement in the manipulation and alteration of the Delhi Excise Policy.
According to the CBI, Kavitha was implicated not only in collecting upfront payments but also in transferring illicit funds to Goa via the Hawala channel.
The chargesheet highlights the roles of Kavitha's associates, Abhishek Boinpally and PA Ashok Kaushik, in transferring the ill-gotten money. It was revealed that Arvind Kumar Singh, the Production Controller-Cum-Commercial Head of India Ahead News, acted as a conduit in transferring ₹7.10 crore from Delhi to Goa through the Hawala channel. Singh is associated with Mootha Gautham and Boinpally, who are co-accused alongside Kavitha.
On Monday, the Rouse Avenue Court acknowledged the supplementary chargesheet filed by the CBI in the Delhi Excise Policy case. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja has scheduled Kavitha's appearance via video conferencing for July 26 and instructed that the supplementary chargesheet be provided to Kavitha and her legal counsel. The case has been listed for document scrutiny on the next hearing date.
During a previous hearing, Advocate DP Singh stated that the offence had already been recognized and the chargesheet served the limited purpose of consideration and summoning of the accused. Singh mentioned that Kavitha commanded key individuals within the South Group, who influenced the excise policy. Statements from various individuals, including TDP MP Magunta S Reddy and his son Raghav Magunta, were read to support these claims.
The CBI's supplementary chargesheet, filed on June 6, marks the third in the Delhi Excise Policy case. Kavitha is currently in judicial custody for both CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) cases. She was first detained by the ED on March 15 and subsequently by the CBI on April 11.
On July 1, the Delhi High Court dismissed Kavitha's bail petitions related to the CBI and ED cases. Kavitha's bail plea cited her responsibilities as a mother of two, one of whom is a minor undergoing medical care due to the situation. She argued that the allegations were attempts by the ruling party to implicate her. The plea contended that the case relied solely on statements from approvers and co-accused without corroborating documents or evidence of cash transactions, making her arrest baseless.
The CBI and ED have alleged irregularities in the modification of the excise policy, claiming undue advantages were given to license holders, fees were waived or reduced, and the L-1 license was extended without proper authorization. The agencies stated that the illicit gains were diverted to officials who falsified their accounts to avoid detection. They also alleged a ₹144.36 crore loss to the exchequer due to these actions, including a refund of around ₹30 crore to a successful tenderer and a waiver on license fees from December 28, 2021, to January 27, 2022, due to COVID-19, despite no enabling provision for such a waiver.
