New Delhi, August 31, 2024, 4:00 PM IST — The Supreme Court of India has granted bail to K Kavitha, a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) and leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), in connection with the ongoing investigation into the Delhi liquor policy scam. The decision was handed down on Friday, following an appeal by Kavitha against her arrest and detention in the high-profile case.
K Kavitha, who is also the daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, had been embroiled in the investigation concerning alleged irregularities and corruption in the formulation and implementation of Delhi’s excise policy. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had earlier arrested her, citing her involvement in the scam, which allegedly led to significant financial losses for the Delhi government.
During the bail hearing, Kavitha’s legal team argued that the charges against her were politically motivated and that there was insufficient evidence to justify her continued detention. They contended that she had cooperated fully with the investigation and that her arrest was an abuse of the legal process.
The Supreme Court, after reviewing the submissions from both sides, granted her bail on the condition that she cooperates with the ongoing investigation and refrains from influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence. The court emphasized that bail is not an exoneration of the charges but a provision to ensure that justice is served without undue harm to the accused’s rights.
The granting of bail has sparked reactions across the political spectrum, with BRS supporters hailing the decision as a vindication of Kavitha’s innocence, while opposition parties have criticized it as a setback in the fight against corruption. The case remains under investigation, and the ED is expected to continue its probe into the broader implications of the liquor policy scam.
K Kavitha’s release on bail is seen as a significant development in the case, but legal experts caution that the investigation is far from over. The Supreme Court’s ruling allows her temporary relief, but the scrutiny over the alleged scam continues, with potential legal challenges ahead for all involved parties.