KTR passport case: High Court asks why ACB wrote to the passport office, orders status quo till 6 November

The Telangana High Court has questioned the Anti-Corruption Bureau over its letter to the Regional Passport Officer about BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao, and has frozen the passport proceedings against him until 6 November.

KTR had challenged a show-cause notice the passport officer issued on 28 September, asking why his passport should not be impounded over his alleged role in the Formula E race case, and the proceedings that followed on 13 October. He sought a stay.

The court’s questions

Justice E.V. Venugopal wanted to know why the ACB had written to passport authorities after it had already filed a charge sheet, when the case was pending before the trial court. He also asked whether the bureau had filed a memo before the Special ACB Court seeking to impound the passport. The ACB’s standing counsel was told to place the details of the communication before the court.

For the passport office, Additional Solicitor General Narasimha Sharma said no final order had been passed. The Passports Act allows the proceedings to be challenged, he said, and KTR had been given the chance to appear in person and explain his side.

No stay, but no change either

The court declined to stay the proceedings. It directed all parties to maintain status quo on the notices under challenge and issued notices to the Union government, the Regional Passport Officer and the ACB. The respondents must file their counter-affidavits by 6 November, when the case will be heard next.