A team of officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested MLC K. Kavitha, daughter of former Telangana CM K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), after paying a surprise visit to her residence on Friday. Kavitha's multi-storied Banjara Hills house had been declared off-limits to outsiders as the officials reportedly seized Kavitha’s phones and conducted extensive searches for more than four hours.
Kavitha, her family members, and her staff were present inside the house during the entire period. The officials also recorded her statement relating to the Delhi liquor scam case. It may be recalled that Kavitha was questioned by the ED last year. According to the ED probe, Kavitha was part of the southern group which illegally benefited from the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy. In January, she was asked to appear before the ED, and on Friday she was served the arrest warrant and taken into custody.
Upon hearing the news, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) supporters gathered in large numbers at her residence and protested her arrest. Her brother and former Minister K.T. Rama Rao, along with his cousin and former Finance Minister Harish Rao, reached Kavitha's residence to meet her but was not immediately allowed.
Kavitha’s lawyer, Soma Bharat, attempted to enter the premises but was prevented by the officials. Speaking to the media stationed outside Kavitha’s house, he questioned the ED’s actions when Kavitha’s case was in the Supreme Court.
“The ED should answer why they are taking these actions when they gave an undertaking to the Supreme Court that they would not take coercive action until the case is heard,” he said. He added that the grounds for arrest were not presented to them even after a request, and ED’s actions were a violation of the SC's undertaking. According to sources, Kavitha might be transported to Delhi either tonight or tomorrow morning.
Taking to X, Kavitha's brother and former minister K.T. Rama Rao said, "Abuse of power and institutional misuse to settle political scores is something that has become increasingly common with BJP Govt in last 10 years."
Abuse of power and institutional misuse to settle political scores is something that has become increasingly common with BJP Govt in last 10 years
— KTR (@KTRBRS) March 15, 2024
ED needs to answer Supreme Court on the inordinate rush to arrest when the matter is very much sub-judice & up for review in a…
It has been learnt that BRS supremo and former CM K. Chandrashekar Rao was holed up in a meeting with senior party leaders following the development. The party has recently released the list of MP candidates, in which Kavitha’s name was left out from her traditional constituency, Nizamabad. A fortnight ago, Congress party leader Jagga Reddy sensed a conspiracy and claimed that BJP and BRS were enacting a new drama, as part of which Kavitha could be arrested if it would fetch them votes and impact the Congress's prospects in the upcoming Parliament polls.
BRS has called for a statewide protest on Saturday in Telangana over the arrest.
Friday was a day of hectic political activity too as PM Modi landed in Hyderabad soon after Kavitha was arrested. In his two-day tour, PM Modi will participate in a roadshow and take part in a public meeting in Nagarkurnool with the BJP MP candidates.
