Hyderabad: A six-member CBI team, including a women, which started questioning Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha at her Banjara Hills residence here from 11 a.m. on Sunday in the Delhi Excise Policy case is still in progress.
The CBI team arrived in two vehicles at her residence and went in to record her statement. Tight security arrangements have been made by the police at Kavitha’s residence.
Earlier, the CBI had issued notice to her under Section 160 of the CrPC, seeking any information she may have in regard to the Delhi liquor scam as a witness.
The surroundings of Kavitha’s house were deserted before the arrival of the CBI officials as she had requested her supporters and BRS leaders and workers not to gather.
Barricades were erected by police to prevent any gathering.
However, ahead of the questioning, the BRS leader’s supporters installed hoardings near her residence. “Daughter of fighter will never fear. We are with Kavithakka,” reads one of the hoardings.
Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged in a recent remand report before a Delhi court that the BRS MLC had changed her phones and numbers during the period of the excise policy case.
CBI is conducting a parallel investigation in the case.
ED’s remand copy of arrested Gurugram businessman Amit Arora, who is alleged to be an aide of prime accused Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, states that the BRS MLC Kavitha, also the daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, was among 35 persons contacted by Arora over the past one year.
In a mail to Kavitha on Tuesday, Raghavendra Vatsa, Head of Branch/DIG CBI, ACB, Delhi said with reference to your trail mail dated 05.12.2022 vide which you have informed your availability at your residence at Hyderabad on 11th, 12th, 14th and 15th of December 2022 for your examination in connection with investigation of RC0032022A0053 of CBI, ACB, Delhi.
He said, in this regard, it is informed that CBI team will visit your residence at 1100 hours on 11.12.2022 for your examination and recording of your statement in connection with investigation of aforesaid case.
The CBI notice to Ms. Kavitha followed a remand report submitted by the Enforcement Directorate in court on November 30 following the arrest of Amit Arora by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Apart from Ms. Kavitha, YSR Congress Party MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy and his son Raghava were also mentioned by the agency.
The ED alleged that Kavitha changed her phone’s International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) six times after the case was handed over to the agency.
Furthermore, the agency said the accused destroyed digital evidence in an attempt to hamper the ongoing investigation into the matter.
The ED claimed that extensive digital evidence was destroyed on purpose to stymie the investigation. “As many as 36 suspects/accused involved in the case have destroyed their 176 cell phones and laptops after the case was handed over to the agency. The ED has been able to retrieve data from 17 out of 170 cell phones.
The ED officials also found the mobile phones destroyed by MLC Kavita, Srujan Reddy, Arun Pillai, Abhishek Boinapally, Butchi Babu Gorantla, and Sharath Reddy.” This was stated by the ED in its remand report.
The CBI on November 25 filed its first charge sheet in the Delhi excise policy case against seven accused.
“As per the investigation carried out so far, Vijay Nair, on behalf of leaders of AAP has received kickbacks to the tune of at least Rs 100 crore from a group, called South Group (controlled by Sarath Reddy, Ms K Kavitha, Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy) by various persons including Amit Arora,” the ED had said in the remand report filed on one of the accused — Amit Arora — in a Delhi Court.
