HC says Kavitha key conspirator in excise policy, bail denied

BRS leader K Kavitha was prima facie one of the main plotters of the criminal conspiracy behind the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy 202122, the Delhi High Court has said while denying bail to her in two cases of corruption and money laundering linked to the alleged liquor scam.

The high court, which perused the material collected by the investigating agencies, said Kavitha was prima facie involved in the payment of kickbacks in various processes and activities relating to proceeds of crime and in the commission of the offence of money laundering.

The high court said no case for grant of regular bail was made for now as the investigation is at a crucial stage. It rejected her plea for relief on ground of being a woman, saying as a well-educated person and a former MP, she cannot be equated with a vulnerable female and the court cannot lose sight of the “serious allegations” against her.

“This court is of the opinion that K Kavitha was prima facie one of the main conspirators in the criminal conspiracy hatched in relation to formulation and implementation of Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22,” Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said in an order which was passed on Monday and uploaded late last evening.

While dealing with Kavitha’s submission that she, being a woman, be released on bail as she is entitled to the benefit of proviso of Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the court said she cannot be equated with a vulnerable woman.