In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted a raid at the residence of BRS Leader K Kavitha in Hyderabad in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case. This action follows the leader’s repeated failure to comply with summons issued by the agency.
K Kavitha, a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) in Telangana and the daughter of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief and former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, has been under scrutiny for her alleged involvement in the ‘South Group,’ which is linked to the Delhi liquor policy scam. The ED alleges that this group played a pivotal role in the scandal.
According to ED officials, the South Group, including K Kavitha, Hyderabad businessman Sarath Reddy, YSR Congress Party MP Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, and others, allegedly gave ₹100 crore in advance to an individual connected to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). In return, they were promised significant benefits, including a stake in the Delhi liquor business and the opportunity to hold more retail licenses than permitted by the policy.
The ED’s investigation revealed intricate details of kickbacks, proxy ownership, and illegal business dealings orchestrated by the South Group. They alleged that K Kavitha used multiple phones to avoid leaving digital traces and actively participated in facilitating illegal transactions.
Despite being questioned by the ED in 2023, K Kavitha failed to appear after being summoned in January and February this year. She has denied any wrongdoing, accusing the BJP of using the ED for political motives. Meanwhile, the Congress has raised questions about BJP’s approach towards K Kavitha and hinted at political understandings.
The Delhi liquor policy scandal has already led to the arrest of AAP leaders like Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is also under the ED’s scrutiny and has skipped multiple summons.
As the investigation unfolds, the ED’s raid on K Kavitha’s residence underscores the intensifying scrutiny on political figures and their alleged involvement in financial irregularities, highlighting the complex dynamics of power and accountability in Indian politics.
Sources By Agencies
