The Supreme Court of India has granted bail to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha in the high-profile excise policy irregularities case, currently under investigation by both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan ordered Kavitha’s immediate release on Tuesday, imposing several conditions including a bail bond of Rs 10 lakh each for the CBI and ED cases, surrender of her passport, and directives against tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses.
The court’s decision comes after Kavitha spent five months in custody. The bench noted that the trial is likely to be prolonged, given the vast number of witnesses (493) and extensive documentation involved. They also observed that the prosecution’s case relies heavily on statements from co-accused individuals who have been granted pardon and turned approvers.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Kavitha, argued for bail on grounds of parity, citing the recent bail granted to co-accused Manish Sisodia. Rohatgi emphasized Kavitha’s status as a sitting Member of Legislative Council and daughter of a former Chief Minister, asserting her unlikelihood to flee from justice.
The prosecution, represented by Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, contended that Kavitha had destroyed evidence by formatting her phone. However, the defense countered this claim, leading to a brief discussion on the common practice of deleting messages and changing phones.
This bail order overturns the Delhi High Court’s previous dismissal of Kavitha’s bail petitions on July 1. Kavitha was initially arrested by the ED on March 15, 2024, followed by her CBI arrest on April 11, 2024.
The case revolves around alleged irregularities in the Delhi government’s excise policy, with accusations of undue favors to license holders and policy modifications without proper approvals.
(Inputs from ANI)