K Kavitha to now face heat from CBI

A Delhi court on Friday granted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) permission to interrogate and record the statements of jailed Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha in the money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. The order was passed on the plea filed by the probe agency seeking the court's permission to interrogate the BRS leader.

According to the Enforcement Directorate's primary allegation against Kavitha in the case, she was a member of the so-called ‘South Group' that paid kickbacks worth ₹100 crore to AAP leaders - in exchange for nine retail zones under the now-scrapped policy. The probe agency also revealed names of other persons involved in the ‘South Group’ - Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSCRCP) MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, his son Raghav Magunta, Aurobindo Group promoter Sarath Reddy, and Delhi-based businessman Sameer Mahendru.

Following her arrest, Kavitha was sent to the central agency's custody till March 23. It was later extended, and last week, she was sent to a 14-day judicial custody.

On Thursday, Delhi's Rouse Avenue court reserved its order on interim bail of the BRS leader for April 9. She had sought interim bail on the grounds that her son has an exam.