Telangana High Court Grants Interim Protection to KT Rama Rao in Formula-E Race FIR

Add a comment

The Telangana High Court, in an interim order issued on Friday, December 20, 2024, granted protection from arrest to BRS MLA KT Rama Rao until December 30 in an FIR alleging irregularities in organizing the Formula-E race in Hyderabad during the BRS regime. Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar, issuing the order, noted that the FIR lacked essential ingredients and stemmed from government contracts that required further examination. The court allowed the investigation to continue while directing the petitioner to cooperate with the Investigating Officer by furnishing necessary documents.

Arguments by Rama Rao

Senior Advocate C.A. Sundaram, representing KT Rama Rao, contended that the FIR was politically motivated and lacked any evidence of personal benefit or corruption on the part of his client. Sundaram argued that the government’s role was merely to step in as a sponsor after the original sponsor backed out to save the event. He highlighted the following points:

  1. Delay in FIR Registration: The FIR was registered 14 months after the alleged event without a preliminary inquiry.
  2. Civil Nature of the Dispute: Sundaram maintained that this was a civil matter involving policy decisions about whether to continue the race or terminate it.
  3. No Personal Gain: Sundaram asserted there was no pecuniary benefit or personal interest on Rama Rao’s part to attract charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
  4. Political Vendetta: He suggested the FIR was motivated by political vendetta and lacked substantive grounds for criminal breach of trust or misappropriation.

State’s Response

Advocate General A. Sudarshan Reddy, appearing for the State, opposed the plea for quashing the FIR, stating that:

  1. Approval Irregularities: Rama Rao, as the then MAUD Minister, approved payments amounting to â‚ą54 crore without proper sanction from the finance department or adherence to business rules.
  2. Inquiry Sanction: The Governor had duly sanctioned prosecution based on an inquiry report.
  3. Prima Facie Evidence: The FIR demonstrated deviations from the agreement terms and irregularities in approvals.

The State argued that quashing the FIR at this stage was premature and that new individuals might be implicated as the investigation progresses.

Court’s Directions

The High Court provided interim protection to KT Rama Rao from arrest until December 30 and directed the State to file a detailed counter-affidavit. The court clarified that the investigation could proceed, and the petitioner must cooperate. It emphasized that this interim relief was not a final determination on the merits of the case.

Case Details:
Case Title: KT Rama Rao v. State of Telangana (ACB)
Case No.: Crl.P. 15847/2024

Leave a comment