Delhi Excise Policy case: Supreme Court seeks ED, CBI response to K Kavitha bail plea

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the petitions moved by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha seeking bail in the cases related to alleged corruption in implementation of Delhi excise policy 2021-22. [Kalvakuntla Kavitha v Directorate of Enforcement]..A Bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan sought the response of the central agencies and listed the matter for hearing on August 20.Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi represented Kavitha and submitted that she has been in jail for the past five months and is entitled to bail. It was also argued that her case was similar to that of Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who have been granted interim and regular bail, respectively, by the top court..The Delhi High Court had on July 1 rejected the bail pleas filed by BRS leader, leading to the instant appeals before the apex court, filed through advocate P Mohith Rao..Kavitha was arrested by the ED on March 15 from Hyderabad. Subsequently, the CBI took her into custody on April 11. The CBI and the ED have claimed that she was involved in the exchange of bribes and the laundering of money in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy. The trial court rejected K Kavitha's bail plea in both the CBI and ED cases on May 6..The case against Kavitha and others originated in 2022 when a First Information Report (FIR) was registered by the CBI alleging that the Delhi Excise Policy of 2021-22 was manipulated to facilitate monopolisation and cartelisation of wholesale and retail liquor trade in Delhi.As per the CBI and ED, certain persons/groups from South India benefited in the process and some amount of their profits was given to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which used the same to campaign for the Goa assembly elections.Kavitha is one of several political leaders arrested in the case. The other accused include Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and AAP leaders such as Sanjay Singh (presently out on bail) and Manish Sisodia (recently granted bail).The AAP itself has also been made an accused in the case. .Manish Sisodia verdict: Supreme Court criticises High Court, trial court for "playing it safe" in bail matters.Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.