Delhi excise policy case: Kavitha conspired with top AAP leaders to get favours, alleges ED

March 18, 2024 07:03 pm | Updated 08:43 pm IST - New Delhi

The Enforcement Directorate on March 18 alleged that Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) legislator K. Kavitha, along with others, had conspired with top Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, for getting favours in the formulation and implementation of the erstwhile Delhi excise policy.

The agency had arrested Ms. Kavitha in Hyderabad on March 15 and produced her the next day before a special Delhi court that remanded her to its custody for seven days. The ED alleged that during the search proceedings at her Hyderabad residence, her relatives and associates had caused obstruction.

Alleging that Ms. Kavitha along with others had conspired with the senior AAP leaders, the ED said: “In exchange for these favours, she was involved in paying ₹100 crore to the leaders of AAP. By the acts of corruption and conspiracy in the formulation and implementation of Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, a continuous stream of illegal funds in the form of kickback, from the wholesalers was generated for the AAP.”

The ED also alleged that Ms. Kavitha and her associates were to recover the “proceeds of crime paid in advance to AAP and to further generate profits/proceeds of crime from this entire conspiracy”.

In the excise policy case, the agency has so far searched 245 locations across the country, including in Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai. It has arrested 15 persons, including Mr. Sisodia, AAP leader Sanjay Singh and the party’s former communications in-charge Vijay Nair. One main and five supplementary prosecution complaints have been filed. The ED has also attached assets worth ₹128.79 crore.