In a recent development in the Delhi liquor policy case, BRS leader and daughter of former Chief Minister of Telangana, K. Kavitha, did not receive relief from Rouse Avenue Court. Her application for interim bail was dismissed despite pleading on the grounds of her 16-year-old son's ongoing examinations. The Rouse Avenue Court had reserved its judgment on April 4th after hearing the arguments from Kavitha's side and the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) counsel. The court pronounced its verdict today.
During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing K. Kavitha, referred to Section 45 of PMLA and a provision that grants exceptions to women. Singhvi argued, 'It's not that the child is in the cradle or young; he is 16 years old. But the issue here is different. It's about a mother's moral and emotional support for her child. The son has already suffered trauma due to K. Kavitha's arrest.'
Singhvi said, 'The Prime Minister himself lectures on the radio about dealing with exam stress, as children are under pressure during examinations.' Indicating that a mother's emotional support for her child cannot be replaced by anyone else, Singhvi asserted that the ED did not need any immediate interrogation from K. Kavitha and thus she could be granted interim bail.
However, the Enforcement Directorate objected to K. Kavitha's interim bail plea, arguing that in light of the case's facts and circumstances, she should not profit from the provisions under Section 45 of PMLA. The ED's counsel, Zoheb Hossain, argued that this provision does not apply to women who are public figures and politicians. The ED's lawyer claimed K. Kavitha was one of the key operators in the Delhi liquor policy case, involved in arranging and benefiting from the bribe. 'She (K. Kavitha) was involved not only in arranging the bribe but was also a beneficiary,' the lawyer stated.
The ED argued in court that the charges against K. Kavitha are not only based on statements from witnesses and accused but also on documents and WhatsApp chats. The ED's lawyer argued that several phones were destroyed and data was deleted in this case. The Enforcement Directorate informed the court that it is on the verge of a significant breakthrough in the investigation of the Delhi liquor policy case and that K. Kavitha's bail could hinder this progress.
