The CBI has made startling revelations about BRS leader K. Kavitha. According to news agency PTI, the CBI informed the court on Friday that K. Kavitha pressured Aurobindo Pharma promoter Sharath Chandra Reddy to pay 25 crores to the Aam Aadmi Party. The central investigation agency claimed that Kavitha threatened Reddy with business repercussions in Telangana and Delhi unless the sum was paid under the new Delhi liquor policy for five retail zones.
Sharath Reddy, accused in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi liquor scam, later turned approver for the investigation conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The CBI is yet to file a charge sheet against Reddy. This case is under the CBI’s investigation, and the agency requested court permission to interrogate K. Kavitha in custody. They shared with special Judge Kaveri Baweja that it was at Kavitha's 'behest and assurance' that Reddy decided to venture into the Delhi liquor business.
Vijay Nayar was the common contact between the South Group and AAP
The CBI stated that K. Kavitha assured Reddy of her contacts within the Delhi government and would facilitate his entry into the liquor trade as per the new excise policy. The central agency informed the court, 'Kavitha told Sharath Chandra Reddy that he would have to make an advance payment of 25 crore rupees to the Aam Aadmi Party for obtaining the wholesale liquor business in Delhi and an additional 5 crore rupees for each retail zone. Reddy was further instructed to make equivalent transactions to his associates Arun R. Pillai and Abhishek Boinpalli. These two, in turn, would liaise with Vijay Nayar, who is known to be associated with Arvind Kejriwal.'
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court sent K. Kavitha to CBI custody until April 15 in the Delhi liquor scandal case. The agency alleged that during March and May 2021, while the excise policy was being drafted, Kavitha's associates Arun R. Pillai, Abhishek Boinpalli, and Buchibabu Gorantla stayed at Delhi's Hotel Oberoi and manipulated the liquor policy in their favor through Vijay Nayar. Following Kavitha's assurance of support, Aurobindo Realty & Infrastructure Private Limited made a payment of 80 lakh rupees as Corporate Social Responsibility to her NGO, Telangana Jagruthi, in March 2021.
'K. Kavitha obtained 14 crores from Sharath Reddy in land deal'
The CBI's investigation further revealed that in June-July 2021, K. Kavitha coerced Sharath Chandra Reddy into entering a sale agreement for agricultural land in Telangana's Mahabub Nagar. However, Reddy had no intention of purchasing the said farmland and was unaware of its value. Citing Reddy's statement, the agency informed the court, 'Kavitha forced him to pay 14 crore rupees for the land and in July 2021, through one of the Aurobindo group's registered companies, Mahira Ventures Private Limited, he was compelled to enter the sale agreement.'
'Kavitha threatened to destabilize Reddy's business'
According to the CBI, Reddy paid K. Kavitha the demanded sum in two installments through bank transactions: 7 crore rupees in July 2021 and another 7 crore rupees in mid-November 2021. The agency charged that in November and December 2021, Kavitha instructed Reddy to make a payment of 25 crore rupees at the rate of 5 crore per allotted retail zone in Delhi. The CBI suggests, 'Kavitha claimed she had already made a payment of 100 crore rupees on his behalf, through Vijay Nayar, directly to the Aam Aadmi Party for favorable provisions in the excise policy. When Sharath Chandra Reddy showed reluctance to pay the demanded sum, K. Kavitha threatened to harm his liquor business in both Telangana and Delhi.'
