New Delhi, Mar 23 (UNI) A court in Delhi on Saturday extended the Enforcement Directorate custody of BRS leader K Kavitha, an accused in the Delhi excise policy scam case, till March 26.
Special Judge MPs/MLAs cases Kaveri Baweja, after hearing arguments on behalf of Counsel for ED and Defense Counsel, extended the custody of Kavitha by three more days until March 26.
Kavitha was arrested by the Investigating Agency on March 15 after raiding her residence in Hyderabad and obtained 7 days of ED custody on March 16 for interrogation in the money laundering case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
ED’s Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain moved an application under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) seeking the extension of the custody for 5 more days of K. Kavitha.
In this matter, an FIR was registered by the CBI on August 17, 2022, against Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister, Delhi, for irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of Delhi for 2021–22. After that, ED initiated an investigation by registering ECIR on 22.8.22 and filed a prosecution complaint on 26.11.22, and the Special PMLA Court took cognizance of the offense.
ED sought 5 more days of custody by submitting that the arrestee is required to be interrogated concerning unearthing the remaining proceeds of the crime.
Counsel for ED submitted that ED has mentioned her role and the forensic report extracted from Kavitha's phone and analyzed. She was also confronted with some statements, but she was noncooperative in the investigation.
Counsel for ED had alleged that Kavitha was a key member of 'South Group' that has been accused of paying the AAP kickbacks of Rs. 100 crores in return for a big share of liquor licenses in Delhi.
Counsel for Kavitha had moved a bail application on behalf of her, which was objected to by ED by submitting that the bail application cannot be entertained at this stage of investigation.
UNI RA BD GNK