KTR's Petition Quashed: High Court Cites Key Reasons!

BRS Working President and former minister K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) faced a setback in the Telangana High Court after the court dismissed his petition seeking to quash an FIR filed against him. Senior Supreme Court advocate Sheshagiri Rao explained the reasons behind the High Court’s decision during an interview with a prominent TV channel.

According to Sheshagiri Rao, it is rare for a High Court to interfere in an FIR in normal circumstances unless exceptional grounds are established. He highlighted that the FIR was registered following a complaint regarding the release of funds during KTR’s tenure as a minister. Specifically, the issue pertained to agreements made for organizing the Formula E car race. Although one of these agreements was successful, payments were allegedly made without obtaining the necessary administrative and financial approvals, which resulted in financial losses to the state exchequer.

The complaint was lodged by the current Principal Secretary, leading to an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) case against KTR. The advocate noted that KTR’s move to file a quash petition immediately after the FIR was registered, before the investigation could commence, was criticized by the High Court. Initially, the High Court had granted interim relief by preventing KTR’s arrest. However, it later dismissed his quash petition, citing sufficient prima facie evidence to warrant further investigation into the allegations.

Furthermore, the court rejected the request from KTR’s legal team for immunity from arrest until they could approach the Supreme Court. The High Court emphasized that since preliminary evidence pointed to a possible violation of procedural rules resulting in a financial loss of 90 million pounds, the investigation must continue. The court clarified that it could not intervene at this stage.