‘Not named in liquor scam’

NAVEENA GHANATE
Hyderabad

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s daughter Kavitha told the CBI on Monday that she is not in a position to meet them on December 6 due to her “pre-planned schedule.”
She told to the CBI that she will be able to meet them either on December 11, 12 or December 14, 15 at her residence in Hyderabad.

The TRS MLC said that she had gone through the complaint and the FIR registered regarding the Delhi liquor policy scam case and found that her name did not figure in any manner whatsoever.

A day after receiving the notice from the CBI on December 2 seeking clarifications in the case, Kavitha wrote to the agency seeking copies of the complaint from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the FIR. In its reply, the CBI informed her that a copy of the FIR and complaint was available on its website.

“I have carefully gone through the FIR, list of accused persons as well as the complaint dated 22-07-2022. I wish to place on record that my name does not figure in any manner whatsoever in them,” says her letter.

“As proposed by you I am not in a position to meet you on December 6 due to my pre-fixed schedule. I will be able to meet you either on the 11, 12 or 14, or 15 of this month whichever is convenient to you at my residence in Hyderabad. Please confirm the date at the earliest,” she said.

Kavitha assured her cooperation in the investigation. “I am a law-abiding citizen and will cooperate with the investigation. I will meet you on any of the above dates. It is made clear that this is without prejudice to my rights available under the law,” she added.
The TRS leader had confirmed on December 2 that she was issued a notice by the CBI under Section 160 of CrPC, seeking her clarification.

“I have informed the CBI that I can meet them at my residence in Hyderabad on Dec 6 as per their request,” Kavita had said then in her statement.The CBI, in its notice, had said that the case was registered on the basis of a written complaint received from Praveen Kumar Rai, Director, Union Ministry of Home Affairs against the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia and 14 others regarding allegations pertaining to the excise policy of Delhi for 2021-22.

“During the investigation of the case, certain facts emerged which you may be acquainted with. Hence your examination about that is required,” the CBI notice said.On November 30, Kavitha’s name surfaced in the remand report filed by the ED in a Delhi court on Wednesday for the remand of businessman Amit Arora in the Delhi liquor policy scam.

According to the remand report, businessman Vijay Nair, who has already been arrested in the case, received kickbacks of Rs 100 crore on behalf of AAP leaders from a group called ‘South Group.’According to the report, the group is controlled by Sarath Reddy, Kavitha and Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy.Sarath Reddy, one of the directors of pharma major Aurobindo Pharma, has already been arrested.Srinivasulu Reddy is an MP belonging to Andhra Pradesh’s ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).