In a major reprieve for BRS leader K. Kavitha, the Supreme Court Tuesday granted her bail in the corruption and money laundering cases pertaining to the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam.
The bench headed by Justice B R Gavai ordered that Kavitha would continue to attend trial proceedings regularly and extend positive cooperation so that the trial can get concluded expeditiously.
"The appellant is directed to be forthwith released on bail in both (CBI and ED) cases on furnishing bail bond of Rs 10 lakh each. She shall not make any attempt to tamper with evidence or influence the witnesses. The appellant shall deposit her passport with the trial court," the court ordered.
A bench, which also comprised Justice K.V. Viswanathan, said the operative part of the order would be uploaded by 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Supreme Court made it clear that no observations were made on the merits of the case while granting bail, and such observations would not impact the conduct of the trial.
The Supreme Court had earlier posted the matter for August 27, for hearing the bail pleas of Kavitha after Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju requested a week's time to file response on behalf of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
It is learned that on August 12, the Supreme Court considered hearing pleas by Kavitha and issued notices to the CBI and the ED to reply. However, at that time, it had declined to grant any interim relief without hearing from the investigative agencies.
Kavitha, daughter of the BRS chief and former Telangana Chief minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was also denied bail by the Delhi High Court on July 1, wherein the bench of Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma noted that the evidence collected by the investigating agency had reflected that she was a key conspirator in the contemplated act of framing the new excise policy, which is now unconstitutional and thus null and void.
Kavitha had moved the Delhi High Court after the special court on May 6 dismissed her regular bail plea.
Kavitha was arrested by the ED from her residence in Hyderabad on March 15 and flown to Delhi. Later, on April 11, the CBI arrested her when she was in jail custody in Tihar.
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