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K Kavitha has been accused by the ED of playing a significant role in the 'South Group,' allegedly involved in bribing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and was arrested on March 15 at her Hyderabad residence
The Delhi Rouse Avenue Court headed by Special Judge Kaveri Baweja remanded K Kavitha into judicial custody until April 9. She has been remanded to 14 days in custody, with her bail application listed for April 1.
During the court proceedings, Advocate Nitesh Rana, representing K Kavitha, requested interim bail citing her minor son's upcoming exams. However, the ED opposed this bail, arguing that if interim bail were to be considered, a reply opportunity should be provided. The ED stressed the strict provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for both interim and regular bail.
The ED requested only 15 days of judicial custody for K Kavitha, suggesting a possible transfer to Delhi's Tihar Jail instead of staying in the agency's custody. The remand request stated that K. Kavitha was allegedly involved in facilitating kickbacks to government officials for illegal advantages in excise policy decisions and transferring crime proceeds of Rs 100 crores to AAP leaders.
The agency also noted K Kavitha's failure to comply with the summons, disclose information fully, and cooperate during the investigation. It was alleged that she played a key role in the 'South Group,' which supposedly paid a Rs 100 crore bribe to the AAP for liquor licenses under Delhi's former policy, with suspicions that this money was used for election campaigns in Goa and Punjab.
Following her arrest in Hyderabad and an unsuccessful appeal to the Supreme Court, where her brother KT Rama Rao was involved in a verbal altercation with ED officials, K Kavitha's plea was denied. The Supreme Court's special bench stressed that influential individuals could not bypass lower courts.
(Souce: PTI News)
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