BJP alleges Kavitha’s link in liquor scam

By Our Special Correspondent

TRS MLC and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K. Kavitha played a key role in the multi-crore liquor policy scam involving Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, BJP said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against Sisodia and others, including Hyderabad-based Arun Ramachandran Pillai, for alleged financial irregularities in implementing the new liquor policy for the national capital.

Manjinder Singh Sarsa, a former BJP MLA from Rajouri Garden constituency in the national capital, alleged in a press conference, “Kavita facilitated meetings at the Oberoi Hotel and brought in liquor dealers from the south. Liquor licenses were paid in advance in the name of Magunta family members. Money was also given in advance for Punjab and Goa elections.

It is alleged that Kavitha Sisodia was given a bribe of Rs 4.5 crore to get the distillery in Punjab unsealed, of which Rs 3.5 crore was paid in cash and rested through a credit note. “Kavitha has a role in giving and taking all this. She is holding meetings. She met the Chadha family, took money and did not seal their factory,” he alleged.

Meanwhile, CBI sources told Deccan Chronicle that a comprehensive investigation is underway on Robin Distilleries, which Pillai set up with Nizamabad-based Gandra Premsagar. The CBI is investigating several companies set up by Premsagar in the infrastructure and finance sector. Recently, Premsagar drew attention for donating one crore rupees to the Nizamabad Velama Sangha. According to reliable sources, he is a close relative of another ruling party MLC.

Several attempts were made to contact Premsagar and his wife Smita, who is a director in several of his companies. The couple runs a management school in Banjara Hills.

"Smita is not the director of a distillery under CBI's radar, that's all I can say," a senior staff member of the management school said when contacted.

The CBI is also probing the financial transactions of TRS Paleru MLA Upender Reddy's son-in-law Srujan Reddy. Related sources said that Srujan Reddy has invested in the liquor business in the national capital along with a city-based pharma corporate. Srujan Reddy's civil contracting company, which got a huge package in the Palamuru Ranga Reddy Upliftment Scheme, has also come under the scanner.

Meanwhile, BJP MP Parvesh Verma alleged that members of Chandrasekhar Rao's family attended the meetings held at a five-star hotel in the national capital on the formulation of Delhi government's excise policy.

Verma said that Telangana has a "similar" excise policy, which has also been implemented in West Bengal. "The family members of Telangana CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao attended the meetings held in a hotel on the formulation of Delhi Excise Policy. The same policy was implemented in Punjab for the members of KCR's family. They planned for Delhi with Manish Sisodia and Arvind Kejriwal,” alleged Verma.

Telangana state BJP president Bandi Sanjay told media persons late at night that he too had seen reports that the "KCR family was involved in the liquor scam". He said, "I need to know about it, and I will talk about it."