BRS leader Kavitha denied interim bail in Excise scam case as a New Delhi court ruled on Monday, April 8, 2025, that the current stage of investigation does not justify her release. The court’s decision marks a significant development in the ongoing probe into the Delhi Excise policy-related money laundering case, one of the most high-profile investigations tied to alleged corruption in liquor licensing.
K. Kavitha, a senior leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and daughter of Telangana’s former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 15, 2025. She is accused of playing a key role in what the ED calls the “South Group,” a cartel that allegedly paid kickbacks to secure liquor licenses in Delhi under the now-scrapped 2021-22 Excise Policy.
In her plea, Kavitha sought interim bail on health grounds, claiming medical complications and the need for urgent treatment. However, the special court handling Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases refused to entertain her petition. The judge stated that the investigation was at a “crucial stage” and releasing Kavitha at this time could hamper the ongoing probe.
The Enforcement Directorate, in its submission, strongly opposed the bail plea. The agency argued that Kavitha was an influential political figure with the capacity to tamper with evidence and influence witnesses. According to the ED, she was a “key conspirator” who facilitated the payment of ₹100 crore in bribes to AAP leaders in exchange for undue favors in the Excise policy formulation.
The agency also cited digital evidence, including WhatsApp chats, deleted files recovered from mobile devices, and financial transactions that allegedly link Kavitha to the money trail. Investigators claim the funds were laundered through a network of shell companies and proxies to obscure the origin of the kickbacks.
Kavitha’s legal team has criticized the arrest and the denial of bail as politically motivated. In a statement following the verdict, BRS leaders claimed that the BJP-led central government is using central agencies to target opposition parties ahead of the upcoming general elections. “This is not justice, it’s vendetta politics. The court must see through this orchestrated attack,” said BRS MP Nama Nageswara Rao.
This case is part of a broader investigation that has already led to multiple arrests, including that of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in 2023. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which implemented the excise policy in question, has consistently denied any wrongdoing and accused the ED and CBI of conducting biased probes under political pressure.
The denial of interim bail for BRS leader Kavitha in the Excise scam case comes at a time when the political climate is heating up ahead of the 2025 Lok Sabha elections. Analysts believe the case will continue to dominate headlines as more evidence is presented in court and additional accused are questioned.
For now, Kavitha remains in judicial custody at Tihar Jail, awaiting her next hearing, scheduled for later this month.
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