Formula-E case: KTR submits written statement to ACB after lawyer refused entry

After providing his statement, he left the ACB office and headed to the party headquarters at Telangana Bhavan. Earlier, following ACB instructions, the BRS working president arrived at the ACB office accompanied by his lawyer.

Hyderabad: Tension prevailed at the Anti-Corruption Bureau office here on Monday after BRS working president KT Rama Rao, who was summoned in connection with the investigation into the Formula-E case, was told that his lawyer would not be allowed to accompany him. This prompted him to submit his statement outside the office and leave.

Rama Rao had reached the ACB headquarters around 10 am, but with the police refusing his lawyer entry into the office, he spoke to police officials seated in his car and handed over a written statement and returned without appearing before the officials.

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Asserting his fundamental right to legal representation, Rama Rao told the media that he had insisted on his lawyer’s presence. “They said I can’t take my lawyer inside. So I have given my statement whatever I had to give inside the office, to a DSP rank officer of the ACB. He has given me an acknowledgement,” he said, expressing concern over being denied the company of his lawyer during the inquiry by the ACB and suspected the State government might manipulate his statements similar to what happened with former BRS MLA Patnam Narender Reddy.

“I am a law-abiding citizen. I am here, respecting the Anti-Corruption Bureau and its notice issued to me. I will also ensure that I will give all the information that they want, but in the presence of my lawyer because they in the past created a situation where things which were not said by our leader have been said. So I am suspecting that they are operating under the instructions of a third-rated criminal called Revanth Reddy,” Rama Rao said.

In the statement submitted to the ACB, Rama Rao said since the matter was reserved for order by the Telangana High Court, the ACB should consider deferring the questioning till the judgement was pronounced in the case and proceed further in accordance with law subject to the orders of the High Court.

“Being a law-abiding citizen, I will cooperate in the matter, subject to constitutional and legal rights as provided by law,” he said in the statement, in which he also mentioned that the ACB, in its notice, had not given any details of the information and documents that it sought from him pertaining to the case. The ACB should provide details of the documents sought to take further action at his end after giving reasonable time, he demanded.

The ACB on December 19 registered a case against Rama Rao, which he challenged in the High Court. On December 31, after extensive arguments, the High Court reserved the judgement, prohibiting any arrest before the verdict was pronounced. “Even as the matter is sub judice and the High Court is expected to announce its judgement, the ACB served me a notice asking to appear for questioning on Monday and I obliged,” Rama Rao said.

ACB should respect HC directive, says KTR
Earlier, when his lawyer was refused entry, Rama Rao said the ACB should respect the High Court directive.

“All I am seeking of the ACB is that they respect the High Court judgement. In fact, the High Court has reserved its judgement. I am a law-abiding citizen. I worked as a lawmaker and I am still a lawmaker. Therefore, all I am asking the ACB is to ensure my rights are protected as an individual and citizen. I am entitled to my lawyer’s presence but unfortunately, they seem to have a different opinion. So we are trying to discuss it with them. They made extensive arguments in the High Court and the matter is sub judice and the judgement is reserved. I am a law-abiding citizen but if they do not want to ensure that my rights are protected, I have to walk away,” Rama Rao said before leaving the ACB office, adding that attempts were also being made by the government to attack his house.

“Conspiracies are being hatched to place anti-law and illegal objects in my house during the attacks, which are being planned as per Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s directions,” Rama Rao said, adding that irrespective of the attacks and attention diversion cases planned, the BRS would continue to fight against the Congress government’s faulty policies and corrupt practices.

All this was being done only to divert the people’s attention from the Congress government’s betrayal to farmers. After promising Rs.15,000 under Rythu Bharosa, the Congress government cut down the assistance to Rs.12,000, he pointed out.