The Supreme Court Today (Jan 15) dismissed BRS MLA K.T. Rama Rao’s plea to quash an FIR against him in the Formula E race funding case, involving corruption allegations over Hyderabad’s canceled 2023 event. Despite interim protection, the Telangana High Court found “prima facie evidence” for investigation, prompting Rao’s unsuccessful appeal to the apex court.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today dismissed the petition filed by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao, who sought to have the first information report (FIR) against him in the Formula E race funding case canceled.
A bench of Justices Bela Trivedi and PB Varale refused to accept Rao’s appeal, upholding the Telangana High Court’s earlier decision to deny him relief.
Senior Advocate Aryama Sundaram represented Rao, while Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for the State of Telangana. The FIR accuses Rao of “criminal breach of trust under Section 409 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)” and violations under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The case revolves around allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the use of funds by the BRS-led Telangana government for organizing the second season of the Formula E race in Hyderabad in 2023.
However, the event was eventually canceled after the Congress government came to power.
On December 18, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) received a complaint from the Congress-led government about irregularities in the event’s funding.
An FIR was filed, naming three individuals, including Rao, and accusing them of multiple offenses under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Following the FIR, Rao approached the Telangana High Court to have the case dismissed. On December 20 of the previous year, the High Court granted interim protection from arrest to Rao.
After a detailed hearing, the High Court rejected Rao’s plea on January 7.
Justice K. Lakshman, in his judgment, noted that
“a prima facie case had been made out against Rao to warrant a criminal investigation.”
Dissatisfied with this outcome, Rao appealed to the Supreme Court, which has now refused to interfere with the High Court’s decision.
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