A summon a day keeps the ED happy: Kavitha’s counsel in court

Pillai, also an accused, was arrested for his alleged involvement in the case. The ED had said that Pillai “represented the South Group”, an alleged liquor cartel linked to Kavitha and others that paid kickbacks amounting to about Rs 100 crore to the AAP to gain a larger share of the market in the Capital under the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. The South Group, according to the ED, comprises Sarath Reddy (promoter of Aurobindo Pharma), Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy (YSR Congress MP from Ongole in Andhra Pradesh), his son Raghav Magunta, Kavitha and others. The ED had also alleged in Pillai’s remand papers that he “represented the benami investments” of Kavitha, who has also been questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the case.

The counsel also said that the statements of Buchi Babu Gorantala — a chartered accountant (CA) allegedly linked to Kavitha — against Kavitha were “contradictory”. “In four chargesheets, I wasn’t made an accused… Giving the accused summons the same day that she is cooperating, is a complete travesty of justice… It’s the antithesis of necessity to arrest,” said Singhvi. Calling the ED a super empire, Singhvi said that the agency thinks they are beyond the court, the country and the Constitution. “…According to them (ED), only ED can be trusted and no one else.”

Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain representing ED, however, argued that Kavitha’s counsel had earlier sought a shorter time to argue the interim bail plea referring to the fact that Singhvi was currently arguing for both the regular and interim bails. “You can’t have your cake and eat it too,” said Hossain, who was accompanied by Special Public Prosecutor N K Matta.

The Special Judge adjourned the matter till April 4, while asking Singhvi why he was continuing the arguments for so long if the interim bail was sought on an urgent basis. Special Judge Baweja also said that arguments for interim bail are different from regular bails.

Earlier, the Delhi court had sent Kavitha to a 14-day judicial custody until April 9. Prior to that, she was in the ED custody for 10 days in connection with the Delhi excise policy. The ED had taken her into custody from Hyderabad on March 15, and produced her before the Rouse Avenue Court the next day. She was sent to ED custody for seven days, and on March 23, the court granted the agency extended her custody for three more days, until March 26.

Calling Kavitha one of the kingpins and key conspirators, the ED in its remand application noted that she “conspired with top AAP leaders and gave them kickbacks to the tune of Rs 100 crore, and in exchange, got undue favours in the formulation and implementation of the excise policy”. It also alleged that she “orchestrated” a deal with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his former deputy Manish Sisodia, wherein she, along with other members of the South Group paid kickbacks “through a string of intermediaries and middlemen” to gain access to the excise policy formation.

According to the ED, Kavitha’s nephew is also involved in the “transfer/ utilisation of proceeds of crime”.