Delhi High Court Denies Bail to BRS Leader K Kavitha in Excise Policy Case
On Monday, the Delhi High Court dismissed the bail petitions of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha in cases related to the Excise Policy. Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma made the decision after reserving the order on May 28, 2024.
Legal Arguments
Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhari and Advocate Nitesh Rana represented K Kavitha, while Advocates Mohit Rao and Deepak Nagar also appeared for her. Advocate DP Singh represented the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and Advocate Zoheb Hossain represented the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
CBI’s Stand
The CBI opposed the bail, stating that the investigation is at a crucial stage and releasing Kavitha could hinder the process. They emphasized that she failed to meet the ‘triple test’ required for bail.
ED’s Stand
The ED also opposed the bail, arguing that routine conditions are insufficient in money laundering cases due to the potential for the accused to disrupt the investigation using technology.
Background
The Delhi High Court had previously issued notices to the ED and CBI regarding Kavitha’s bail petitions. The ED recently filed a supplementary chargesheet against Kavitha and others, including Chanpreet Singh, Damodar, Prince Singh, and Arvind Kumar.
K Kavitha’s bail plea mentioned her family situation and alleged that the case against her is based on uncorroborated statements. She claimed her arrest was illegal and lacked evidence of a money trail.
Previous Court Decisions
On May 6, the Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi dismissed Kavitha’s bail petitions. She was arrested by the ED on March 15, 2024, and by the CBI on April 11, 2024.
Investigation Details
The CBI’s investigation, recommended by the Delhi Chief Secretary’s report, found violations of several acts and rules. The ED and CBI alleged irregularities in the excise policy, including undue favours to license holders and financial losses to the exchequer.
