BRS leader Kavitha leaves for Delhi in a special flight
Suspense continues over her appearance before ED in liquor case
K Venkateshwarlu
Hyderabad
BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha left for New Delhi by a special flight along with her brother IT Minister KT Ramarao, cousin Rajya Sabha MP J. Santhosh Kumar and close associates on Sunday.
However, there is suspense over Kavitha’s appearance before the ED on Monday. Political circles are wondering whether Kavitha will appear before the ED or depute her lawyer once again. She had deputed her lawyer on March 16 when she was asked to appear before the ED.
Responding to the petition filed by Kavitha in the Supreme Court, the ED filed a caveat asking the SC not to issue any orders without hearing their arguments on her petition.It is known that Kavitha had levelled allegations against the ED. She stated in her petition that the ED had been calling her to their office and making her sit till 8.30 pm. She called it illegal, considering she was a woman.In her plea, she said the ED was threatening and adopting third-degree methods while questioning the accused in the case and so the SC must see to it that no coercive measures are taken against her.
She mentioned that in the Nalini Chidambaram case, the ED assured the Supreme Court that women would not be forced to appear in person; yet, she was summoned to their office.
Kavita’s petition will be heard in the Supreme Court on March 24. The court is also likely to hear the arguments of ED on the same day.It may be recalled that the ED issued notices to Kavitha asking her to appear before it on Monday (March 20) after she skipped ED’s investigation on March 16, making it clear to the ED that she would appear before the ED after the Supreme Court hearing (that is on March 24).
Although Kavitha filed a petition in the Supreme Court objecting to the ED summoning her personally to the agency’s office, the Supreme Court did not issue interim orders. The Supreme Court agreed to hear her plea on March 24.
