The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued fresh summons for March 20 to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s daughter K Kavitha, who skipped questioning of the Central agency in connection with Delhi excise policy scam case on Thursday.

After questioning Kavitha for nine hours on March 11, the ED had summoned her again for questioning on March 16. But she skipped the second round of questioning, hence, the fresh summons to join the investigation on March 20.

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The federal agency had to issue the fresh summons as Kavitha refused to present herself before the ED for interrogation on Thursday citing a pending petition in the Supreme Court. She did not appear for the second round of ED questioning conveying to the probe agency that the matter is still pending before the apex court.

According to sources, Kavitha had sent the necessary documents sought by the probe agency through her legal representative. The ED had summoned her earlier this month to appear before it on Thursday in the Delhi excise scam case, alleging that she was a key member of the south cartel.

The BRS leader had approached the Supreme Court for an urgent hearing claiming that as a woman, she cannot be summoned to the ED office, and the probe agency’s representatives must visit her instead.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court had agreed to hear her plea challenging the ED summons on March 24 but refused to grant her interim relief.

The apex court has agreed to hear her petition on March 24, in the Delhi excise policy scam case. Kavitha approached the Supreme Court, saying as per norms a woman cannot be summoned for questioning before ED in office and her questioning should take place at her residence.

The advocate for Kavitha said that a woman is now being summoned by ED for questioning and that it is “completely against the law”.

Kavitha’s lawyer mentioned the plea before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and sought an urgent hearing on her petitions. The court agreed to list it on March 24.

During her first appearance, Kavitha was reportedly confronted with Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Pillai, who had represented the South Group that allegedly gave kickbacks of Rs 100 crore to AAP leaders. The money was allegedly used during the Goa Assembly polls.

Pillai has reportedly said that he was Kavitha’s associate.

On Wednesday, the ED recorded the statement of Buchchi Babu, the BRS MLC’s former auditor and also a member of the South Group.

Kavitha has maintained that she has never met former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who has been arrested by the CBI and the ED in connection with the case, claiming that her name was being unnecessarily dragged in the case.

According to the ED, Kavitha is also one of the representatives of South Group in the excise policy case.