ED Arrests Kavitha

Kavitha gets ED shock, gets arrested. Inis evening. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha, the daughter of BRS leader K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in connection with the Delhi Liquor Policy Case. This arrest coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's participation in an election rally and roadshow in Malkajgiri, Hyderabad, adding significance to the timing as the Election Commission of India was set to announce the schedule for general elections on March 16.

ED officials arrived at Kavitha's residence in Hyderabad to conduct searches and questioned her and her husband, D. Anil Kumar, who was also present at the time. The ED reportedly possessed an arrest warrant, although Kavitha's appeal was scheduled to be heard by the Supreme Court of India on March 19. However, the case was adjourned to that date.

The ED's investigation into the Delhi liquor policy case, a money laundering probe, had previously summoned Kavitha for questioning. The agency claimed that she was associated with a 'south group' of liquor traders aiming to exploit the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy for 2021-22. Other members of this group included Hyderabad businessman Sarath Reddy, YSR Congress Party MP Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, and his son Raghav Magunta Reddy, some of whom have become approvers in the case.

The timing of the arrest has raised eyebrows, particularly as the Election Commission of India was about to announce the schedule for the 2024 general elections. Bharat Kumar, the general secretary of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, criticized the raid, highlighting that Kavitha's petition was due to be heard in the Supreme Court. He emphasized that the grounds for arrest had not been disclosed to their lawyers, and he considered the arrest illegal, especially in light of the ED's prior undertaking to the Supreme Court not to take any action until the case was heard.

Kavitha's brother and BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao, along with KCR's nephew T. Harish Rao, arrived at her residence but were prevented from entering by ED officials. They questioned the legality of the arrest, insisting that if an arrest had indeed occurred, she should have been produced before a local court first.

Former Housing Minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy condemned the arrest, alleging that the BJP was using it to politically target KCR and the BRS. He criticized the arrest's timing and stressed that a female had never before been arrested in a money laundering case, particularly in the evening hours.

BJP State unit president and Union Minister G. Kishen Reddy defended the arrest, questioning why Kavitha would need legal options if she was innocent. He rejected claims of political vendetta, a sentiment echoed by BJP contestant from Malkajgiri Etala Rajender, who also emphasized the complexity of the case and Kavitha's alleged lack of cooperation with investigative agencies.