ED names Telangana CM KCR's daughter K Kavitha in Delhi excise scam

HYDERABAD: The political battle between TRS and BJP is all set to become more intense with the Enforcement Directorate for the first time naming chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter, Kalvakuntla Kavitha, in the Delhi excise policy scam.

In the remand report of Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia's close aide Amit Arora, who was arrested on Wednesday, ED alleged, "As per the investigation carried so far, accused Vijay Nair (AAP communications in-charge) on behalf of the leaders of Aam Aadmi Party has received kickbacks to the tune of Rs 100 crore from a group called South Cartel.

The South Cartel Group is controlled by Sarath Reddy of Aurobindo Pharma, K Kavitha and Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy. Kickbacks were sent by various persons, including Amit Arora."

Numerous attempts by TOI to contact Kavitha, who is also a member of the Telangana legislative council, failed.

The remand report stated Arora confessed to sending kickbacks. It also alleged digital evidence was destroyed by the accused to impede investigation.

Kavitha, the central agency claimed, had changed her mobile handset six times between 2021 and 2022. Sisodia, Sarath Reddy and Abhishek Boinpally alleged to be close to Kavitha, have also changed their mobile handsets going by IMEI number analysis, ED added.

"At least 36 accused or suspects involved or suspected to be involved in the case have destroyed 170 phones as per IMEI analysis. ED could recover only 17 out of 170 phones. Otherwise, the kickbacks could have been much more and the involvement of other important persons would have surfaced more clearly. Most of the suspects have changed their phone from May 2022 to August 2022," said ED in the remand report.

ED alleged Amit Arora is the key person along with Dinesh Arora, who assisted Nair and excise officials in the scam. Amit is believed to have facilitated the transfer of a Rs 2.5 crore bribe, which was 6% of the kickback given to Nair. In addition, he also allegedly conspired with excise officials and gave Rs 1 crore bribes.

CBI had initially registered the FIR and ED took up investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. So far, Arun Ramchandra Pillai of Kokapet, Abhishek Boinpally, P Sarath Reddy of Aurobindo have been arrested. The ED claimed that Delhi's excise policy was a device created by AAP leaders to generate illegal funds.