Telangana High Court Orders CBI to Verify Interpol Notice Status in Former MP's Case
The Telangana High Court issued a significant directive on Tuesday, instructing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to determine whether the Interpol red corner notice (RCN) issued against former Rajya Sabha member KVP Ramachandra Rao remains in effect. This notice, dating back to 2014, stems from a provisional arrest warrant issued by a United States court in 2013, linked to an alleged titanium project bribery scandal.
Background of the Interpol Notice and Legal Proceedings
The Interpol red corner notice was initiated following a case registered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The allegations center on claims that approximately $18.5 million, equivalent to Rs 153.6 crore, was paid as bribes to government officials to secure approvals for a titanium project. In response, Rao approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2014 to challenge the notice, which resulted in an interim stay granted in 2015 that has persisted since then. That court also directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to refrain from taking further action against Rao concerning the notice, with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, and CBI named as parties in the petition.
Court Hearing and Arguments Presented
During the hearing before Justice N Tukaramji's bench, the CBI contended that the petition challenging the Interpol red corner notice was not maintainable in the Indian judicial system. CBI counsel T Srujan Kumar Reddy argued that since the notice originated from Interpol headquarters in Paris and was not issued by any Indian court or agency, any challenge or appeal should be pursued in the appropriate international jurisdiction. He emphasized that the CBI had merely acted as an executing agency in this matter, reinforcing the stance that the petition should not be heard in the local court.
Initially, the matter was listed for dismissal due to the absence of representation from the petitioner. However, the court agreed to proceed with the hearing after a request from Rao's legal team. Senior counsel RN Hemendranath Reddy and advocate CH Satish Kumar, representing Rao, highlighted that while the CBI had filed a counter, the central government and Interpol had yet to submit their responses. They urged the court to ensure the central government places its official position on record.
Jurisdictional Questions and Court's Decision
The petitioner's counsel also requested additional time to clarify whether the Telangana High Court holds jurisdiction over the case or if it should be transferred to the Andhra Pradesh High Court, given the historical context of the proceedings. Taking note of these submissions, the court adjourned the matter for two weeks. In its order, the bench specifically directed the CBI to ascertain and report on whether the Interpol red corner notice against KVP Ramachandra Rao continues to be in force, marking a critical step in resolving this long-standing legal issue.
This development underscores the complexities involved in international legal notices and their enforcement within domestic judicial frameworks, particularly in cases with cross-border implications like alleged bribery schemes.
