Formula E race case: KTR declines to submit mobile phone to ACB
HYDERABAD
BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao has declined to submit his mobile phone to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) that is probing the Formula E race case citing privacy issues.
Interestingly, the former MA&UD minister claimed that he had replaced his old mobile phone in the first quarter of 2024 with a new one and not used any other electronic devices during the relevant period pertaining to the Formula E race case.
In his written reply to the ACB, KTR stated that such a direction violates fundamental rights and personal privacy guaranteed under the Constitution. Questioning the ACB's direction, he said that he had personally appeared before the ACB on June 16 and responded to all queries.
Stating that ACB had served him a notice to submit the mobile phone used between November 1, 2021, and December 1, 2023, along with other electronic devices used by him, KTR pointed out that the notice did not specify the reason or purpose for seeking these devices.
KTR emphasised that all official records relevant to the Formula E case were already available with the State Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) department, and all decisions related to the case were made in his official capacity as Minister of that department. He added that if any electronic devices were to be examined, strict protocols laid down by the Supreme Court must be followed to avoid any tampering or misuse of data.
He highlighted the importance of the right to privacy citing a relevant case in which the Supreme Court granted interim relief to a petitioner and instructed the Enforcement Directorate not to access or copy the contents of the petitioner's mobile phone.
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