Delhi excise policy case: K Kavitha's judicial custody extended till May 20

A Delhi court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha till May 20

A Delhi court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha till May 20 in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. 

The Rouse Avenue Court deferred hearing arguments on consideration of the sixth supplementary chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the probe.

BRS MLC K Kavitha was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 15. (ANI)

Last Friday, the ED had filed a nearly 200-page prosecution chargesheet along with annexures under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

On March 15, Kavitha was arrested by the ED from her Banjara Hills residence in Hyderabad. The central agency has alleged that Kavitha was a key member of the ‘South Group’ that paid kickbacks worth ₹100 crore to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in return for a big share of liquor licences in the national capital, as part of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy for 2021-22.

The E Kavitha was "one of the kingpins, a key conspirator and beneficiary of the Delhi excise policy scam".

The excise case pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities. Subsequently, the ED filed its money laundering case on August 22, 2022, taking cognisance of the CBI FIR that was lodged on August 17, 2022.

The agency has arrested 18 people in connection with the case so far. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested on March 21, got interim bail last Friday.