Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Friday provided temporary relief to BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) by directing the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) not to arrest him until December 30 in connection with an FIR alleging misuse of funds and irregularities in the organization of the Formula E Race held last year.
K.T. Rama Rao had filed a petition seeking to quash the ACB case, arguing that the allegations were politically motivated. Senior advocate C.S. Sundaram, representing KTR, claimed that there was no evidence of criminal breach of trust or misappropriation. In the interim order, the court directed the BRS leader to cooperate with the investigation while ensuring he would not face arrest.
The High Court has scheduled the next hearing for December 30.
Allegations and Counterarguments
Advocate A. Sudarshan Reddy, representing the Telangana government, argued against quashing the FIR at this stage, citing alleged irregularities involving Rs 54 crore. He stated that the funds were released without obtaining proper government sanction or approval from the finance department.
Reddy further emphasized that FIRs are preliminary documents and additional individuals or evidence could surface during the investigation.
Sundaram countered these claims, asserting that the issue stemmed from a contractual agreement and was more administrative than criminal. “There is an arbitration pending. The new government may have made a wise decision, but it does not justify invoking Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act,” he argued.
Political Repercussions
The case triggered a political storm in the Telangana Assembly, with BRS legislators disrupting proceedings and demanding a discussion on the Formula E Race allegations. The protest escalated into chaotic scenes as the legislators attempted to seize the speaker’s podium. Shadnagar Congress MLA Veernapalli Shankar added to the chaos by throwing a paper ball at the BRS MLAs.
Amid the uproar, Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar adjourned the Assembly.
Speculations about K.T. Rama Rao’s possible arrest over the weekend further fueled the controversy, adding another layer of tension to Telangana’s political landscape.
