Enforcement Directorate arrests BRS MLC based on information from accused-turned-approvers
Kavitha faced further summons from the ED in January 2024, which she declined to attend, citing the pending petition in the Supreme Court
HYDERABAD: After a few arrests, BRS MLC K Kavitha came under the scrutiny of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), months after the CBI filed a FIR in the Delhi Excise Policy case, often known as the Delhi liquor scandal.
Kavitha's close associate, Abhishek Boinpalli, was arrested by investigators a few months after the FIR was filed, increasing rumours about her involvement. In December 2022, CBI officers questioned Kavitha at her Hyderabad home, recording her statement about the matter.
On March 11, 2023, the ED examined Kavitha for almost nine hours. Despite summons, Kavitha declined to depose for further examination on March 16, 2023, resulting in new summons and a subsequent questioning session lasting approximately 10 hours on March 20, 2023. During this session, Kavitha gave over ten phones to ED officials, who then sent them for forensic processing.
Meanwhile, Kavitha filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court, seeking relief from further questioning by the ED. Her plea, however, is still pending.
Kavitha received another summons from the ED in January 2024, but she declined to attend due to a pending Supreme Court petition. The CBI recently called her, but she requested an exemption, citing her loyalty to her party and campaigning for the impending Lok Sabha elections.
The investigation focused on Kavitha after hearing testimony from accused turned approvers Magunta Raghava, Dinesh Arora, and Sharat Chandra Reddy. Their comments apparently contained critical information incriminating Kavitha in the alleged scheme.
ED and CBI investigators also questioned Kavitha's personal assistant in Delhi, Ashok Kaushik, and gained critical information on transactions, cash movement, and hawala-related issues.
Arun Ramachandra Pillai, a close acquaintance of Kavitha, revealed to ED investigators that Kavitha was the primary investor behind him in the Indo Spirit firm, a major actor in the alleged scheme.
Vijay Nair, AAP social media in-charge, was also accused of collecting '100 crore in kickbacks from the "South Group". The South Group included YSRCP MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, his son Raghav Magunta, Aurobindo Pharma director Sarath Reddy, and Kavitha.
The South Group was represented by Abhishek Boinpally and Arun Pillai, both close allies of K Kavitha, and her auditor, Buchi Babu. According to chargesheets submitted in court by investigation agencies, Abhishek Boinpalli conspired with Vijay Nair and his friend Dinesh Arora to enable the transfer of a "100 crore kickback."
According to court records filed by the ED, conversations between Kavitha and key individuals in the alleged scheme suggest a deeper involvement in the scam under investigation. According to the records, one of the accused, Sameer Mahendru, communicated with Kavitha via Facetime, during which she congratulated him on the Delhi business and showed her delight in their cooperation.
Sameer visited Kavitha in early 2022 at her Hyderabad home in the presence of Sarath, Arun Pillai, Abhishek, and Kavitha's husband Anil.
