Kavitha's Questioning By CBI Continues Beyond Seven Hours

The questioning of BRS MLC Kavitha in the Delhi liquor case by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was continuing beyond seven hours at her residence in Hyderabad.

A team of CBI officials were recording the statement of Kavitha at her Banjara Hills residence.

The officials, including a woman, arrived in two vehicles amid tight security around 11 am, and the questioning started then. Sources said that there was a lunch break during the questioning.

The surroundings of Kavitha's house were deserted before the arrival of the CBI officials as she had requested her supporters and BRS leaders and workers not to gather there.

Barricades were erected to prevent any gathering.

BRS sources said that this was done as a gathering might be seen as an attempt to create hurdles in the CBI investigation.

The CBI had served a notice to Kavitha under Section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code, seeking her clarifications in the case.

The CBI, in its notice, had mentioned that the case was registered on the basis of a written complaint received from Praveen Kumar Rai, Director in the Union Home Ministry, against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and 14 others regarding the allegations pertaining to the excise policy of Delhi for 2021-22.

"During the course of investigation of the subject cited case, certain facts have emerged which you may be acquainted with, hence your examination on such facts is required in the interest of investigation," read the CBI notice.

On November 30, Kavitha's name had surfaced in the remand report filed by the ED in a Delhi court for remand of businessman Amit Arora in the Delhi liquor policy case.

According to the remand report, businessman Vijay Nair, who has already been arrested in the case, had received kickbacks of Rs 100 crore on behalf of AAP leaders from a group called the South Group, controlled by Sarath Reddy, Kavitha and Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy.

Sarath Reddy, one of the Directors of pharma major Aurobindo Pharma, has already been arrested.

Srinivasulu Reddy is a Member of Parliament belonging to Andhra Pradesh's ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).

Kavitha had initially agreed to the CBI's request to meet them on December 6. However, she later wrote a letter to the agency seeking copies of the complaint from the Union Home Ministry and the FIR. In reply the CBI had informed her that the FIR and complaint were available on the website.

Kavitha, in her response on December 5, conveyed to the central agency that she had carefully gone through the contents of the FIR, the list of accused persons as well as the contents of the complaint, but found that her name did not figure in any manner whatsoever.

She also conveyed to the central agency that she was not in a position to meet them on December 6, and proposed alternate dates.

The CBI informed Kavitha on December 6 that a team would visit her residence in Hyderabad on December 11 for her examination and a recording of her statement in connection with the investigation in the case.

The central agency asked her to confirm her availability on the said date and time.

Kavitha sent a reply the same day confirming her availability on the day.