The past year has been a challenging one for K. Kavitha, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR). Engulfed in allegations related to the Delhi liquor policy case, her prominence within the party was reduced during the Assembly elections held in December 2023.
The BRS party faced defeat, including in the constituencies where she had campaigned for local candidates. Moreover, there were concerns that her association with a liquor scam had tarnished the party’s reputation, particularly in rural and conservative areas of the state.
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As the BRS struggled to come to terms with its newfound status as the opposition after nearly a decade in power, Kavitha was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in March this year. In the general elections held shortly after her arrest, she chose not to contest her traditional seat, Nizamabad. Party insiders believed her chances of winning were slim given the case against her.
Surprisingly, there were no significant and prolonged protests from the party following her arrest.
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During her time in Tihar, Kavitha faced health issues, raising concerns among her family and party members. Sources close to her reported that she had lost around 10 kg and contracted viral infections multiple times. She also developed hypertension, requiring daily medication.
Kavitha was arrested by both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and ED on charges of money laundering and corruption.
According to the investigating agencies, she was part of the “south group” that allegedly conspired with AAP leaders to pay kickbacks amounting to ₹100 crores to influence the Delhi liquor policy in return for undue benefits. Although her bail plea was initially denied by lower courts, the Supreme Court eventually granted her bail, offering her relief.
“The Supreme Court has rejected all the allegations made against her during the bail process, which clearly indicates that she wasn't involved in the case,” Kavitha’s lawyer, Mohit Rao, told the media after the court granted her bail.
From being sidelined within the party, Kavitha has suddenly emerged as a star and a brand ambassador of the BRS. The party is now portraying her as a “fighter” and a “victim.”
Outside Tihar jail in Delhi, the entire top leadership of the BRS, including her brother and working president K.T. Rama Rao, was present to welcome her. The atmosphere was festive, with drumming and cheering. Kavitha pumped her fist and declared it was payback time for those who had wronged her. She was then escorted to the BRS office in Delhi and given special treatment.
In Hyderabad, special arrangements were made to celebrate her return. Hundreds of party cadres and supporters with placards awaited her arrival. From the airport, she was escorted to her residence by a large convoy, with posters and hoardings erected across the city to greet her.
One former MLA even fell at her feet as she stepped out of her vehicle. At her residence, a large contingent of relatives gathered to meet her. She tied a rakhi to her brother and embraced her mother. The next day, she visited her father, KCR at his farmhouse and touched his feet.
The Congress was quick to credit the BJP for her release, alleging that both parties were in cahoots, which led to her securing bail. The BJP, in turn, claimed that it was the Congress’s lawyer lobby that facilitated Kavitha's bail. Kavitha, however, delivered a cryptic message, stating that she would return the favour with interest to her detractors, without clearly naming her opponents.
“She is definitely referring to a political party. It cannot be the CBI or the ED. When the case was filed, the BRS was in power in the state, so it has to be the Centre led by the BJP government,” said political analyst and former MLC, K. Nageshwar.
“Recently, the BRS has been attacking the Congress government in the state, so we need to see if her statement signals a shift in their strategy. The way she was released and the reception that followed suggests preparations are underway for the relaunch of Kavitha and the BRS. It will be interesting to see what role she will play in the immediate future. Her case didn’t garner much sympathy or it would have been reflected in the parliament elections. But her bail has certainly generated a lot of interest and attention.”