'Reputation hit, privacy invaded': Kavitha in letter to Delhi court
What's the story
The Rouse Avenue court in Delhi on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha until April 23 in the money laundering probe linked to the now-scrapped excise policy.
Kavitha, the daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, was taken into custody on March 15 in Hyderabad.
In a letter to the court, Kavitha said that the investigation by central agencies—which she called a "media trial"—has hit her reputation and invaded her privacy.
Context
Why does this story matter?
This comes a day after the Delhi court denied the interim bail plea of Kavitha.
Her regular bail plea remains under consideration and is scheduled for a hearing on April 20.
Kavitha is primarily accused of having ties with the "South Group," which allegedly paid kickbacks worth ₹100 crore to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders for preferential treatment in securing retail zones under the excise policy 2021-22.
Privacy concerns
Kavitha expresses distress over 'media trial'
In a written appeal to the court, Kavitha voiced her concerns.
She stated, "I'm a victim. My personal and political reputation has been targeted. My mobile phone is displayed on all television channels, directly invading my privacy."
"I have cooperated with the agencies and given all the bank account details. I will hand over all the mobile phones which the ED claim that I have destroyed," the letter said.
Political allegations
Kavitha accuses BJP of misusing central agencies
In her letter, Kavitha accused the BJP of misusing central agencies for political gain.
She stated that "95 percent cases of ED [Enforcement Directorate]/CBI [Central Bureau of Investigation] are against opposition leaders and when the accused joins the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] the investigation abruptly stops."
The court had earlier refused to permit Kavitha to address the court personally and said that she could give her requests in a written form.
Excise policy case
Other AAP leaders arrested in case
Kavitha was the third high-profile politician to be arrested in the case, after AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh.
On March 21, Arvind Kejriwal became the first sitting chief minister to be arrested in the case.
Both Sisodia and Kejriwal are lodged in Tihar Jail, while Singh was let out of the jail after six months on Wednesday.
He had been in custody since October 2023, after his arrest by the ED in the same case.