BRS leader K Kavitha deposed before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) here on Saturday, with the agency all set to confront her with an arrested accused and record her statement in connection with its money-laundering probe into alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy.
The 44-year-old daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao arrived at the federal agency's headquarters on APJ Abdul Kalam Road from her father's official residence on Tughlak Road, located about 1.5 kilometres away, around 11 am.
There was a heavy presence of Delhi Police and central paramilitary forces personnel for barricading the ED office even as the supporters of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader staged a protest on APJ Abdul Kalam Road.
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Kavitha, who held a protest demanding the introduction of the Women's Reservation Bill, in front of Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Friday asked the ED to postpone her questioning to today, which the central agency had agreed.
Following the summon, Kavitha earlier said "these tactics of intimidation" against the fight of her father and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and the BRS would not deter them.
"As a law-abiding citizen, I will fully cooperate with the investigation agencies. However, due to the dharna and prefixed appointments, I'll seek legal opinions on the date of attending it," she said.
"I would also like the ruling party at the Centre to know that these tactics of intimidation against the fight and voice of our leader, CM Shri KCR, and against the entire BRS Party will not deter us," Kavitha said.
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Under the leadership of Chief Minister KCR, the BRS will continue to fight to expose the BJP's failures and raise voice for a brighter and better future for India, she said.
Telangana would "never bow before" the anti-people regime in Delhi, she claimed.
The ED on Friday mentioned several names before the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court as it sought a 10-day remand for Manish Sisodia, the former Delhi deputy chief minister arrested on charges of money laundering linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy or liquor policy case.
The ED has accused Sisodia of being part of the “money laundering nexus” that conspired with the framing of the excise policy and that there are enough statements and evidence against him. The agency also alleged that Sisodia destroyed his phone and other evidence, and used phones purchased in the names of other people.
The probe agency has also alleged the involvement of Sisodia’s aide and AAP communication-in-charge Vijay Nair who, according to them, was the key coordinator of the ‘scam’. The ED also named Kavitha in the case, establishing a link between the two governments, as well as her former auditor Butchibabu Gorantla, whose statement they disclosed in the court.
(with PTI inputs)
