New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday slammed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for its unfairness in the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam probe and for Justiceadopting a “pick and choose method” in making people accused or witnesses.
A bench of justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Vishwanath took a negative view on the ED probe in the case making Magunta S Reddy, an MP from Telugu Desam Party (TDP) as a witness in the case when statements and facts of the case suggest that he was an accomplice.
You have reduced Magunta S Reddy from the status of an accomplice to that of a witness, SC told ED
The court said, “We are sorry to see these state of affairs, if he (Magunta Reddy) has a role which is equal to that of K Kavitha, will you pick and choose any one as accused or witnesses. His first meeting was with Kejriwal (Arvind) and he says that because she (K Kavitha) is interested you coordinate with her. Prosecution has to be fair, you cannot pick and choose anyone. By doing so you have reduced him from a status of an accomplice to that of a witness.”
Apex Court granted bail to BRS leader Kavitha in CBI, ED cases
These observations by the court came while hearing the bail petition of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha, an accused in the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam case.
The court on Tuesday granted bail to K Kavitah in both ED and CBI cases against her in the liquor policy scam.
The court also took an adverse view of the ED in not making Buchi Babu an accused in the ED case after the additional solicitor general of India (ASG) SV Raju informed the court that Buchi Babu was an accused only in the CBI case and was not involved in money laundering.
However, the bench pointed out to the ASG Raju that Buchi Babu was involved in money laundering because it is alleged that the first tranche of the alleged Rs 100 cr was paid off as kickback to Delhi Chief Minster Arvind Kejriwal, Rs 25 cr was handled by Buchi Babu.
Apex court warned ED that if it continued to argue more, they will invite more adverse observations
The court also warned the ED that if it continued to argue more they will invite more adverse observation from the bench on the unfairness of the investigation by ED which may impact the trial of the case.
The bench in its order said, “ED says that K Kavitha is kingpin in arranging the deal between the accused Arvind Kejriwal and south lobby, but its to be noted that reliance is mainly placed on statements of co-accused who have been granted pardon and made approver.”
