Delhi Excise Policy Case: Telangana CM’s Daughter moves Supreme Court against ED Summons

K. Kavitha, daughter of the Chief Minister of Telangana, has filed a plea in the Supreme Court challenging the summons issued to her by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in relation to the Delhi Excise Policy case.

Kavitha claims that she is not named in the FIR and that the summons are in violation of Section 160 CrPC, which stipulates that no woman shall be required to attend as a witness at any place other than the place in which she resides.

According to Kavitha's plea, the ED gave her short notice for appearance and denied her requests to be examined at her residence or to extend the date of examination. During her appearance on March 11, she alleged that she was forced to produce her cell phone, which was seized by the agency.

She further claimed that the ED leaked her personal contact details and that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) subsequently served a notice upon her and questioned her for almost seven hours.

In her plea, Kavitha asserts that there is no case against her and that the only basis on which she has been implicated is on the basis of certain statements of a few persons who have given incriminating statements themselves as well as allegedly against her. However, such statements have been extracted out of threat and coercion, which is evident from the fact that one person retracted his statement as per the contentions of the plea filed though Advocate Vandana Sehgal. The plea further added  that the credibility of the statements purported to be against the Petitioner is under serious doubt.

The matter was mentioned before the Chief Justice of India, who refused immediate hearing and posted the matter on March 24. Kavitha seeks relief from the court against the alleged harassment and illegalities by the ED.