KTR Receives ACB Notices: Former CBI JD Lakshminarayana Raises Key Concerns

Former CBI Director JD Lakshminarayana has commented on the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) notices issued to Telangana IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) in connection with the Formula E car racing case. He alleged that the notices lacked clarity, stating, “Typically, notices for investigation specify the relevant sections under which they are issued, but the notices sent to KTR appear more like letters rather than formal notices.”

Lakshminarayana pointed out that ACB issued the notices under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). However, he questioned their applicability, noting that under Section 160 CrPC, such notices cannot be served to an accused person. Instead, he said notices should have been issued under Section 94 of the CrPC (formerly Section 91) if documents were to be obtained, which was not done in this case.

Funds Mismanagement Investigation: Former ACB Chief’s Remarks

Former ACB Chief Poornachander Rao highlighted the ongoing investigation into alleged fund mismanagement related to the Formula E racing event. He remarked, “KTR himself admitted to providing funds, which can be disclosed during the investigation by ACB officials.” He also mentioned that the presence of a lawyer for KTR during questioning is unnecessary and that any attempt to provide funds constitutes an offense.

Rao added that if government resources are misused, it amounts to a criminal offense. He stated that ACB considers KTR's role significant in the case and emphasized that the agency only registers cases after a thorough examination of all aspects. He noted that without evidence, a case cannot be initiated, but any inconsistent answers during questioning could lead to an arrest.