Hyderabad (Telangana) : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the IT officials held joint searches on Friday at BRS leader K Kavitha's residence located at Banjara Hills in Telangana's Hyderabad in connection with the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, official sources said. After the searches, the ED took Kavitha into their custody and shifting her to Delhi for questioning.
Following Kavitha's arrest, the activists of BRS and her followers launched flash protests outside her residence. They raised slogans against the BJP-led Central Government and the ED. A large number of BRS followers are making a beeline to her residence on hearing about the arrests of Kavitha, who is the daughter of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) supremo and former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao.
A team of eight officers under the supervision of the Joint Director of ED including IT officials conducted the joint inspections on Friday afternoon. In this background, the authorities are not allowing anyone to enter her house. On the other hand, police have made heavy security at Kavitha's residence to prevent any untoward incident.
Kavitha questioned the ED officials on what basis they arrested her. After learning about her arrest, former ministers K T Rama Rao and Harish Rao along with many BRS leaders reached Kavitha's residence. With the news of Kavitha's arrest, BRS leaders and activists reached her residence in large numbers and there was high tension.
Soma Bharath, general secretary of BRS Legal Cell, said that they did not clarify why Kavitha was arrested. While the case is pending in the Supreme Court, why the arrests were being before the elections, he asked.
It may be recalled that the Supreme Court on February 28, 2024, extended till March 13 the protection it had granted to Kavitha from any coercive action in a money laundering case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
On February 5, the ED had told the Supreme Court that Kavitha was avoiding summons and not appearing before the agency for questioning in the Delhi excise policy matter.
The Delhi liquor case has become a major irritant for the BRS, which lost the 2023 Assembly Election, in which the Congress returned to power in the southern state. BRS supreme KCR has become a target of both the national parties - Congress and BJP - amid reports that the BRS will face a crucial test in the coming Lok Sabha elections in Telangana, which has 17 LS seats.
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