KTR refuses to hand over mobile to ACB; cites no court order, legal team backs move

HYDERABAD: BRS working president KT Rama Rao refused to hand over his mobile phone to officials of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), citing the absence of a court order.Referring to previous rulings by the high court and the Supreme Court, KTR's legal team stated that in the absence of any court order related to official govt transactions, the ACB does not have the authority to demand access to mobile phones.In connection with the ongoing Formula E inquiry, KTR will consult with his legal team before deciding whether to comply with the ACB's request for his mobile phone and laptop. According to the initial legal opinion received by KTR, the inquiry pertains to a sporting event approved by the state govt. Once approved, the event's execution was handled entirely by the official machinery. KTR's role, they maintained, was limited to policy decision-making, with no personal involvement beyond that.