IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K.LAKSHMAN CRIMINAL PETITION No.15847 OF 2024 Between Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao, ……...Petitioner vs.

The State ACB, CIU, Hyderabad and another, ……. Respondents DATE OF COMMON ORDER PASSED: 07.01.2025 SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL.

THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K.LAKSHMAN 1 Whether Reporters of Local newspapers may be allowed to see the Judgment? Yes/No

2 Whether the copies of judgment may be marked to Law Reporters/Journals Yes/No

3 Whether His Lordship wish to see the fair copy of the Judgment? Yes/No ______________________ JUSTICE K.LAKSHMAN IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT: HYDERABAD CORAM:

* HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K. LAKSHMAN + CRIMINAL PETITION No.15847 OF 2024 % Delivered on: 07-01-2025 Between # Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao, .. Petitioner Vs.

$ The State ACB, CIU, Hyderabad and another. .. Respondents ! For Petitioner : Mr. Siddharth Dave, Ld.Sr.Counsel Representing. Mr.A.Prabhakar Rao, Ld.Counsel For Respondents : Mr. A.Sudharshan Reddy, Ld.Adv.General representing Mr. T.Bala Mohan Reddy, Ld.Standing Counsel for ACB Mr.C.V.Mohan Reddy, Ld.Sr.Counsel rep. Mr.Tera Rajinikanth Reddy, Ld.Addl.Adv.General Gist : > Head Note : ? Cases Referred :

1. (1999) 6 SCC 667

2. 1967 SCC OnLine SC 58

3. (2021) 18 SCC 70

4. 2024 SCC OnLine SC 2995 5. 1928 SCC OnLine Bom 102

6. (2002) 1 SCC 241 7. (2008) 2 SCC 561 8. (2010) 10 SCC 547 9. (2023) 3 SCC 423 10. (2023) 15 SCC 135 11 (2024) 10 SCC 690 12. (2009) 10 SCC 660

13. (2013) 1 SCC 205

14. 1992 Supp (1) SCC 335

15. (2016) 6 SCC 310 16. (2021) 2 SCC 427

17. (2021) 19 SCC 401 18. (1999) 3 SCC 259 19. (2003) 6 SCC 175 20. (2010) 11 SCC 374 21. (2002) 10 SCC 667 22. (2024) 10 SCC 527 23. (2023) 4 SCC 338 HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K. LAKSHMAN CRIMINAL PETITION No. 15847 of 2024

ORDER

The present criminal petition is filed under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (hereinafter ‘BNSS’) seeking to quash the criminal proceedings arising out of Crime No. 12/RCO- CIU-ACB/2024 dated 19.12.2024 registered by Respondent No. 1 (hereinafter ‘ACB’) under Sections 409 r/w 120B of the Indian Penal Code (hereinafter ‘IPC’) and Sections 13(1)(a) r/w 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (hereinafter ‘PCA’).

2. Heard Mr. Siddharth Dave, learned Senior Advocate representing Mr. A. Prabhakar Rao, learned advocate appearing for the Petitioner. Also, heard Mr. A. Sudarshan Reddy, learned Advocate General representing Mr. T. Bala Mohan Reddy, learned Standing Counsel for the ACB i.e., Respondent No. 1 and Mr. C.V. Mohan Reddy, learned Senior Advocate representing Mr. Tera Rajinikanth Reddy, learned Additional Advocate General appearing for Respondent No. 2.

FACTS OF THE CASE:

3. The impugned criminal proceedings i.e., Crime No. 12/RCO-

CIU-ACB/2024 (hereinafter ‘FIR’) was registered based on the complaint lodged by Respondent No. 2 (hereinafter ‘complainant’). It is relevant to note that the complainant herein is the current Principal Secretary to the Government of Telangana, Municipal Administration & Urban Development (hereinafter ‘MA & UD’) department.

4. As per the complaint, the allegations leveled against the petitioner herein are as follows:-

The Petitioner herein was the erstwhile Minister of the MA &

UD department and on his initiative, the Government of Telangana decided to host a car racing event titled ‘FIA Formula E Championship’ in Hyderabad city. Initially, a tripartite agreement dated 25.10.2022 was entered into between M/s Formula E Operations Ltd. (hereinafter ‘FEO’), the MA & UD department, Government of Telangana and M/s Ace Nxt Gen Private Ltd. (hereinafter ‘ACE’). As per the terms of the said tripartite agreement, it was agreed that ACE would be the promoter of the event and would be obligated to make payments to FEO as per Schedule IV of the agreement. The MA & UD department was to act as a host and provide all the civic amenities. Further, the said tripartite agreement contemplated conducting four events in Hyd