No court order issued on KT Rama Rao passport, says RS Praveen Kumar

BRS general secretary RS Praveen Kumar denied reports of any court order seeking seizure of KT Rama Rao's passport in the Formula-E case, alleged political motives behind the reports, and accused the Congress government of discrimination in awarding government contracts

Hyderabad: BRS general secretary RS Praveen Kumar on Tuesday rubbished reports that the ACB court had written seeking the seizure of the passport of BRS working president KT Rama Rao and three other officials in connection with the Formula-E race case. He said the ACB had only filed a memo in the court seeking passport protection and that neither Rama Rao nor his counsel had received any court order.

“Courts do not write letters. They issue orders,” he said, questioning the need to seize Rama Rao’s passport. He said the BRS working president was not in a position to influence anyone by travelling abroad and alleged that the move was politically motivated.

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Speaking to the media at Telangana Bhavan, Praveen Kumar said Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was sent to prison for 52 days in the Cash for Vote case, which was a serious offence, and hence the court had seized his passport, compelling him to seek the court’s permission even for his official visits abroad.

“Revanth Reddy is finding it annoying that the BRS working president is winning accolades for his inspirational speeches on international platforms during his foreign visits. Hence, he is orchestrating such leaks,” he added.

He urged the media to verify facts before publishing such reports and advised the ACB authorities to act in accordance with the law rather than on the instructions of the Chief Minister.

Further, the BRS leader accused the Congress government of denying SC and ST contractors opportunities despite assurances made in its 2023 Chevella SC/ST Declaration. He alleged that multiple sub-station works were being clubbed into single packages, depriving SC and ST contractors of contracts. He demanded cancellation of the tenders and implementation of reservations for SC, ST, BC and minority contractors in government works.

Praveen Kumar also alleged irregularities worth Rs 1,500 crore in tenders in the Energy Department and demanded that the government scrap the package system.

“The Congress had earlier awarded a Rs 2,000 crore contract to Mafatlal and others for kickbacks and had done grave injustice to SCs and STs,” he claimed.

He advised the SC and ST leaders in the ruling Congress to question the Chief Minister on the issue and ensure reservations for SC, ST, BC and minority contractors in government contracts. He declared that the BRS would continue its agitation until the sub-station tenders were cancelled.