Following in the footsteps of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha informed the CBI that she won’t appear before the investigative agency on 26 February in connection with the Delhi liquor scam citing her busy schedule in view of the upcoming Parliamentary elections.
She, however, agreed to appear before the probe agency virtually provided it sends particulars and timings beforehand.
Kavitha, the daughter of BRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao, also requested the agency to revoke the notice issued to her under Section 41A CrPC instead of Section 160 of CrPC as has been the case earlier. In the previous summons, she was issued a notice as a witness but the latest notice under Section 41A CrPC was issued to her as an accused in the liquor scam.
In her letter to CBI, the BRS MLC wrote that in view of the upcoming Parliamentary elections she was busy attending meetings across the state. “I am scheduled to attend several one-to-one personal meetings in the next six weeks or so spread over different districts in the state thereby rendering me practically incapable of appearing before you in person on 26.2.2024,” read the letter.
She also complained about the notice issued under Section 41A of CrPC pointing out “There is no logic, reason or background forthcoming as to how, why and under what circumstances have you now resorted to Section 41A CrPC.
She went on to argue that a PMLA case connected to the same investigation was sub judice before the Supreme Court and the additional solicitor general had made a statement before the court that “I may not be summoned until the hearing, the same would in essence and spirit apply to the present case”.
According to the BRS sources, Kavitha received the summons before the crucial Lok Sabha elections following speculation of an alliance between the BRS and BJP. The Congress, even before the last Assembly election, had questioned why Kavitha was not being arrested while a number of AAP leaders have been arrested in connection with the same case.