Formula E: HC junks KTR plea, ED calls him again | India News – Times of India

HYDERABAD: Telangana high court dismissed on Tuesday a criminal petition filed by BRS working president and former municipal administration minister KT Rama Rao challenging the registration of an FIR against him in connection with the Formula E race case.
The court upheld that prima facie material existed to initiate an investigation into the allegations, thereby revoking the interim protection from arrest KTR had earlier received. This decision led to an immediate legal response, with KTR’s lawyers filing an appeal in Supreme Court. The team is expected to request urgent consideration of the case on Wednesday.
In response, Anti-Corruption Bureau filed a caveat to prevent any orders being passed without hearing its arguments. In his 35-page judgment, Justice K Lakshman dismissed KTR’s petition, asserting that there was sufficient material in FIR to warrant an investigation. The judge said that KTR, as head of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), was responsible for overseeing the management of its finances, which included the alleged foreign remittance.
The judge rejected the argument put forth by KTR’s counsel that the funds were not entrusted to him personally, stating that as the head of the municipal administration department, KTR had control over HMDA’s funds, which makes it reasonable to consider whether the funds were misappropriated or misused.
After the HC dismissed KTR’s plea, ED issued fresh summons to KTR to appear before the agency on Jan 16 in the investigation into alleged irregularities in Formula E case. ED case is based on the FIR registered by ACB.