KTR had called for a debate in Telangana assembly on the Formula E event hosted in Hyderabad. He called it a push that started during Chandrababu Naidu's tenure. He claimed the city got a $82 million economic boost from the 2023 E-Prix
Published Dec 20, 2024 | 7:42 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 20, 2024 | 7:42 PM
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BRS working president and former Telangana Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K T Rama Rao secured partial relief from the Telangana High Court today, on 20 December. Following the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s (ACB’s) FIR against him on 19 December for allegedly misappropriating the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority’s funds, the Sircilla MLA sought the court’s intervention.
Justice Natcharaju Shravan Kumar Venkat ordered that the ACB may proceed with the investigation. However, it protected KTR from arrest until 30 December, granting partial relief.
On 20 December, KTR filed a petition in the Telangana High Court to quash the proceeding in the ACB case against him regarding Formula-E payments.
The petition claims that the former Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister did not commit any offences as per the state’s allegations. The list of allegations includes misappropriation of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development, HMDA, funds to the tune of about ₹55 Crore.
At the hearing, C A Sundaram served as KTR’s Senior Counsel. He argued that the ordeal seemed like a political vendetta owing to a 14-month delay between the alleged crime and the FIR. He further emphasised that Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (1988) – criminal misconduct by a public servant, such as misappropriating property or enriching themselves illicitly – was inapplicable.
He held that there should have been a preliminary inquiry before an FIR was filed owing to the aforementioned delay. While the state complained on 18 December, the ACB filed an FIR on the next day, 19 December. He added that there is “no personal interest” in the payments made to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), which manages the Formula races.
He posited further that Section 409 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) – criminal breach of trust by public servants – was invalid in the case.
He also notified the court that the third party to which KTR allegedly paid the ₹55 Crore was absent from the FIR. He elaborated that KTR is not liable for the breach of contract arbitration that the Federation of Motorsports Clubs of India (FMCI) is pursuing against the state. “The continuation of the races is a policy decision of the incumbent government,” he rested.
Representing the state, Attorney General Sudarshan Reddy held that while the FIR doesn’t link KTR to a crime prima facie, an investigation is necessary.
He emphasised that KTR did not follow due procedure and was in violation of both the Model Code of Conduct and the Foreign Remittances rules. He further stipulated that being a public servant, KTR was liable for criminal breach of trust by virtue of his position.
He submitted that the court’s intervention at this early stage was inappropriate.
Subsequently, Justice Natcharaju Shravan Kumar Venkat ordered that the investigation continue. He further ordered that KTR should not be arrested until 30 December, adjourning the court until the next hearing as per the regular roster.
While the High Court did not completely quash the proceedings against KTR, it did provide partial relief.
Meanwhile, the FIR against KTR triggered ripples in the Assembly proceeding on 20 December. Right off the bat, the BRS entered the hall raising slogans like “Will you file an FIR for questioning your false promises.” Subsequently, BRS legislators stepped out of their seats, holding banners and demanding a debate on the allegations in the Assembly.
However, the protest soon escalated with Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao trying to approach Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar unprompted, resulting in the house adjourning.
Previously, KTR also held a press meet on the night of 19 December calling for a debate on the issue in the Assembly. “The effort to bring a Formula event to the city has been on since former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s time,” he explained. He added that the 2023 E-Prix brought in $82 Million in economic benefits to Hyderabad.
Furthermore, he alleged that the Congress was responsible for the cancellation of the 2024 Formula races in the city, deeming it negative for Hyderabad’s global image.
Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also reportedly confirmed that they are registering a case against KTR based on the ACB’s FIR.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
