Hyderabad: ED Questions KT Rama Rao for Seven Hours
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) for over seven hours on Thursday. The interrogation focused on an alleged payment of Rs 45 crore to a foreign country, which reportedly violated Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulations.
KTR was asked over 120 questions during the session, with 80 related to an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) case and 40 tied to the ED investigation. A four-member team, led by a senior ED officer, conducted the questioning at the ED office. The key focus was on the transfer of Rs 45 crore to a foreign country and whether it breached FEMA and RBI rules. ED officials also inquired about Ace Nxt Gen company’s withdrawal from an initial bidding phase and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority’s (HMDA) involvement in the second phase.
Officials alleged that the funds were converted into British Pounds at the Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) and then sent to FEO in London. They also investigated how the foreign company transferred funds to other entities after HMDA’s transaction.
Before questioning KTR, ED officials conducted a preliminary inquiry with Indian Overseas Bank staff. They probed why the RBI was not informed about such a large overseas transaction, as required by law. After gathering information from the bank staff, the ED issued notices to KTR and two other officials. Sources suggest the bank staff may be listed as witnesses in the case, along with complainant Dana Kishore. The ED had earlier questioned senior officials Arvind Kumar and BLN Reddy regarding the matter.
The ED office was heavily secured during KTR’s questioning, with police deploying barricades and a rope team to control the crowd. BRS leaders and supporters demonstrated outside the office, raising slogans and protesting against the police and government. Several party members surrounded KTR’s convoy before being detained and moved to nearby police stations.
After the questioning, KTR spoke to reporters and challenged Revanth Reddy to take a lie detector test. KTR accused Revanth of filing false cases against him to deflect attention from his own legal troubles. “If Revanth joins me for a lie detector test, the Rs 8 crore allegedly being spent on ACB and ED cases against me can be saved and used to help 500 more farmers,” he said.
