A Delhi court on Friday (February 27) discharged K Kavitha, former MP and daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, in the corruption case linked to the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam, along with all other accused, including former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia.
Special Judge Jitendra Singh of the Rouse Avenue Courts discharged all 23 accused in the matter, noting lapses in the Central Bureau of Investigation’s investigation. The court observed that the chargesheet contained several deficiencies and lacked material support from witness statements.
In its order, the court held that the investigation failed to establish a prima facie case against the accused. It also noted that portions of the extensive chargesheet were not corroborated by testimonies and included misleading averments.
K Kavitha, who had been named as an accused in the case during the course of the probe into the Delhi government’s now-withdrawn 2021 excise policy, was among those granted relief in the proceedings.
Following the court’s decision, K Kavitha said the verdict reaffirmed her faith in the country’s judicial system, stating that “Satyameva Jayate” has prevailed.
She noted that the court had completely set aside the case and declared all accused innocent, adding that the outcome validated her consistent position that the allegations were politically motivated.
Kavitha also expressed gratitude to Telangana Jagruti leaders, supporters, and party workers who stood by her and her family throughout the legal proceedings. She thanked her family members including her parents, husband and children for their steadfast support during what she described as a prolonged and difficult period. She said that both her family and supporters across Telangana were relieved and thankful following the judgement.
The excise policy, introduced by the Delhi government to reform the liquor trade and enhance revenue, was later scrapped following allegations of irregularities. Subsequently, Lieutenant-Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena ordered a CBI investigation into its implementation.
Central agencies, including the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate, had alleged that the policy conferred undue advantages on certain private entities at the cost of public funds. The court’s discharge order brings closure, at this stage, to the proceedings against Kavitha in the case.
