ED Tightens Noose Around MLC Kavitha

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today served a notice to Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's daughter and MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha in the Delhi excise policy scam, directing her to appear for questioning on Thursday.

The ED notice came a day after the agency arrested Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai, allegedly the frontman for Kavitha.

Kavitha was already questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the same case in December last year.

Responding to the ED notice, Kavitha said that as a law-abiding citizen she would cooperate fully with the investigation agencies, but that in view of the dharna planned in New Delhi over the Women's Reservation Bill on Friday and other prefixed appointments, she wouldn't be available for appearance on Thursday, and would appear from March 15.

She also said that the BJP's tactics of intimidating BRS leaders would not deter them.

"I would like the ruling party at the Centre to know that these tactics of intimidation against the fight and voice of our leader, CM KCR, and against the entire BRS party will not deter us. Under the leadership of KCR, we will continue to fight to expose your failures, and raise our voices for a brighter and better future for India," Kavitha said in a statement.

"Let me also remind the power mongers in Delhi that Telangana has never and will never bow before the oppressive anti-people regime. We will fearlessly and fiercely fight for the rights of the people," she added.

The BRS leader also stated that the Women's Reservation Bill was long-pending.

"Our only demand is to table it in Parliament to give women their due share of political participation. Bharath Jagruthi, along with Opposition parties and women's organisations from across the country, will come together on March 10 at Jantar Mantar for a one-day peaceful hunger strike, demanding that the BJP government introduce and pass the Women's Reservation Bill," Kavitha added.

Meanwhile, Kavitha left for New Delhi to participate in her scheduled programs.

The ED is yet to respond to Kavitha's request for time to appear before it.