KTR not to be arrested till Dec 30: Telangana HC breather in Formula-E race case
Hyderabad, Dec. 20: In a temporary relief to BRS leader KT Rama Rao, the Telangana High Court on Friday directed the Anti-Corruption Bureau officials not to arrest him till December 30 in the Formula-E race case.
High Court judge Justice Natcharaju Shravan Kumar Venkat was hearing a Lunch Motion petition moved by Rama Rao (also known as KTR) seeking to quash the FIR filed against him by the ACB.
The HC, while granting interim relief, directed the petitioner to cooperate with the investigation and posted the matter next week for further hearing. The government was directed to file its counter.
The Telangana ACB on Thursday registered a case against BRS working president and MLA Rama Rao over alleged payments, some of it in foreign currency without approvals, to conduct Formula-E race in Hyderabad during the previous regime.
Governor Jishnu Dev Varma had recently granted permission to register a case against Rama Rao, over the issue. The FIR named Rama Rao as prime accused, senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar and retired bureaucrat BLN Reddy as accused no 2 and 3 respectively.
The case was registered under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and sections dealing with criminal breach of trust, conspiracy under IPC.
“Where is corruption in this? We have paid Rs 55 crore. They (Formula-E) acknowledged the payment. This is a straightforward account. HMDA has an account in Indian Overseas Bank and money has been transferred from that account..." Rama Rao had said reacting to the case.
Earlier this year, the government had sought an explanation from Arvind Kumar over signing an agreement concerning the Formula-E race allegedly without the approval of the competent authority and also making a payment of Rs 55 crore with majority of it in foreign currency.
Formula-E had announced the cancellation of Hyderabad E-Prix, alleging a contract breach by the new Telangana government. The second Formula-E Race in India was slated to be held on February 10.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
2 motorcycle-borne men conduct 'recce' of Sanjay Raut's bungalow, police launch probe
Mumbai, Dec 20: The Mumbai police launched a probe after two motorcycle-borne allegedly conducted a recce of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut's bungalow in Bhandup on Friday, officials said.
The incident took place around 9 am outside Raut's 'Maitri' bungalow, an official said.
"Two men came on a two-wheeler and stopped outside Raut's bungalow for some time and left the place," he said.
A few persons waiting outside the bungalow spotted the two suspects and informed the Sena (UBT) MP's younger brother and local MLA Sunil Raut, he said.
Soon afterwards, the police were alerted. A team from the Kanjurmarg police station reached the bungalow and launched a probe, the official said.
"Police are examining the footage from the CCTV cameras at the bungalow, which shows two suspects on a two-wheeler," he said.
It is suspected that the duo conducted a recce. Hence, attempts to get information about them and their vehicle were on, he said.
So far, no case has been registered in this connection, according to him.
"If anything serious is found in the detailed inquiry, a case will be registered against the suspects," he said.
Raut is known as a vocal critic of the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra.
