Telangana BJP Welcomes Court’s Ruling in Formula E Race Case, Urges Fair Probe
Hyderabad: The Telangana BJP State unit has welcomed the High Court's decision to dismiss the petition filed by BRS working president and MLA KT Rama Rao (KTR) in the Formula E race case on Tuesday. However, the party cautioned the ruling Congress government against potential accusations of political vendetta while pursuing the case.
BJP spokesperson and Media In-charge NV Subash reaffirmed the party's commitment to fighting corruption in all forms. He emphasized the importance of ensuring public trust by maintaining fairness and transparency in legal proceedings.
The High Court, under the bench of Justice K. Lakshman, dismissed the criminal petition filed by KTR, who stands as A1 in Crime No. 12/ROC-CIU ACB-2024. The case, registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), involves serious allegations under Section 13(1)(a) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act-1988, and Section 409 read with Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Subash highlighted that the gravity of the charges was underscored by the involvement of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which has also issued notices to KTR. He called on KTR to cooperate fully with investigative agencies, including the state ACB and central agencies like the ED, to clear his name if he has done no wrong.
“It is the responsibility of KTR, who has cited legal assistance and pending court cases in the past, to now appear before investigative agencies and provide clarity on the allegations,” Subash said.
The BJP spokesperson also pointed to reports of procedural lapses, quoting arguments made during the High Court proceedings. According to senior counsel representing the Principal Secretary, M. Dana Kishore, funds for the Formula E race project were released without necessary State government approvals, violating established business rules. This, Subash felt, raises critical questions about administrative accountability and misuse of public funds.
Subash further asserted that the BJP supports genuine anti-corruption efforts, aligning with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has consistently championed clean governance through the BJP-led NDA government. He dismissed opposition claims of selective targeting or vindictiveness as baseless, emphasizing the party’s commitment to addressing corruption in a non-partisan manner.
The BJP has reiterated its call for the government to ensure that investigations into the E-Formula case are conducted transparently and without any scope for allegations of bias or vendetta.