Kavitha, the leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), has called the Central government's summon a "tactic of intimidation" and vowed to continue fighting to "expose your failures and raise voice for a brighter and better future for India." The CBI had previously questioned Kavitha for over seven hours in Hyderabad regarding her alleged involvement in the payment of Rs 100 crore in kickbacks to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders by the South Group, which she represents.
Kavitha has been summoned to confront Arun Ramchandra Pillai, an alleged frontman of the South Group who was arrested by the ED on Monday. According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Pillai acted as Kavitha's benami and represented the South Group, which is an alleged liquor cartel.
In the ED's remand report filed in a Delhi court on Tuesday, it was stated that Pillai, along with Abhishek Boinpally and Buchi Babu, facilitated the transfer of Rs 100 crore kickback in connivance and conspiracy with Nair and his associate Dinesh Arora. Kavitha will now be confronted with Pillai by the ED.
Meanwhile, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was also interrogated for hours by the central agency in connection with the alleged Rs 100 crore kickbacks received by the AAP party/leaders through hawala channel from the South Group.