Telangana High Court allows senior counsel to accompany KTR to ACB office

The court, hearing a lunch motion moved by Rama Rao earlier in the day, said the BRS leader's senior counsel should be seated in the library of the ACB from where Rama Rao and the advocate could see each other

Hyderabad: Justice K. Lakshman of the Telangana High Court on Wednesday issued a directive to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to allow BRS working president KT Rama Rao to have his advocate present during his investigation scheduled for Thursday.

Rama Rao’s counsel, A. Prabhakar Rao, had filed an urgent motion seeking permission for the advocate to accompany his client to the ACB office in Hyderabad.

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As directed by the judge, Additional Advocate General, T. Rajinikanth Reddy, presented a plan of the ACB office, outlining the space and facilities available for the investigation. According to the plan, the ACB suggested that the advocate could be allowed to remain in the office library.

However, the proposal included a condition that while the advocate could observe Rama Rao through a window, he would not be able to overhear the conversation. Justice Lakshman, while reviewing the proposed plan, emphasized that both Rama Rao and his legal counsel must be able to observe each other during the investigation.

It may be recalled Rama Rao was implicated by the ACB alleging financial misconduct and violation of Secretariat Business Rules in connection to the Formula-E Championship event in Hyderabad.

On January 2, the ACB served a notice on Rama Rao calling upon him to furnish details and documents related to case by appearing before them on January 6. Prabhakar Rao stated that the ACB did not allow the advocate on January 6 and argued that the same was contravention of the law.

Another notice was served by ACB on January 6 to appear on January 9. Prabhakar Rao raised apprehension that the ACB may record a false confession statement of the petitioner as they were facing immense pressure from the ruling party.

In the petition, it was contended that the ruling party was trying to malign the image of Rama Rao as he was demanding the government to implement the election promises made to the people.

The petition also referenced alleged instances of false confessions being recorded by the police against other BRS party members, including MLAs Patnam Narendar Reddy and Padi Kaushik Reddy, to falsely implicate senior party leaders.

In the course of proceedings, Justice Lakshman rejected a request made by Rama Rao’s counsel for audio and video recording of the testimony during the investigation. The judge noted that there were no serious allegations against the investigating officers to warrant such a measure. He also clarified that the matter would be adjourned until January 20, but left the option open for Rama Rao’s counsel to approach the court on Thursday if the court’s directions were not complied with by the ACB.