The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC, K Kavitha, in connection with the alleged excise policy scam. Kavitha is currently in judicial custody until April 23 in the money laundering case being probed by the ED.
The CBI sought Kavitha’s five-day custody on the grounds that witness statements, retrieved WhatsApp chats, and financial transaction documents related to a land deal implicated her as a major conspirator in a scheme to pay ₹ 100 crore to the AAP through accused Vijay Nair and others, in exchange for favorable provisions in Delhi’s 2021-22 Excise Policy.
The CBI has revealed that an investigation revealed that a liquor businessman from South India met with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on March 16, 2021, to seek support for business under the new Excise Policy for 2021-22.
Ms Kavitha called the businessman on March 19 and met him on March 20 in Hyderabad, where she referenced her coordination with Mr Kejriwal’s team on the Excise Policy.
The CBI has alleged that approver Dinesh Arora confirmed in his statements that co-accused Abhishek Boinpally informed him about a payment of ₹ 90-100 crore to Vijay Nair. Out of this, ₹ 30 crore were transferred via hawala channels through him, collected by Rajesh Joshi of Chariot Media Productions Pvt. Ltd., which was hired by AAP for campaign work in the Goa Assembly election. Additionally, hawala operators’ statements and records confirmed that Rajesh Joshi transferred ₹ 11.94 crore from Delhi to Goa via hawala during the relevant period.
The CBI’s investigation revealed that chats from the mobile of Mr Butchibabu, CA to Ms Kavitha indicate her involvement in M/s Indospirit through proxy Arun R Pillai. Other partners included approver Raghav Magunta and accused Sameer Mahendru. M/s Indospirit was granted an L-1 Licence under pressure from Manish Sisodia and became a wholesaler for M/s Pernod Ricard India Pvt. Ltd., which holds a 35% market share in Delhi.
Ms Kavitha’s associates, Arun R. Pillai, Abhishek Boinpally, and Butchibabu Gorantla, stayed at the Hotel Oberoi in Delhi, influencing the Excise Policy through Vijay Nair. In June-July 2021, Ms Kavitha pressured Sharath Chandra Reddy into entering a sale agreement for agricultural land in Mahboob Nagar, Telangana, despite his lack of interest and knowledge of the land’s value.
Get the latest news updates and stay informed with FELA NEWS!
(Source: NDTV)
