KTR’s luxury car sparks political row after DRI affidavit

HYDERABAD: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao is facing political heat after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) flagged a luxury Land Cruiser 300 registered under his wife Shailima’s company as a “smuggled” vehicle.

Athome Hospitality Services Pvt Ltd registered the car, bearing registration number TG09D6666, where Shailima is a director. According to a DRI affidavit filed before the Special Judge for Economic Offences, Nampally, dealer Basrath Khan imported the vehicle as one of eight allegedly undervalued cars.

Khan, who authorities arrested earlier, admitted in his statement on February 4, 2025, that he undervalued imports, causing an estimated customs duty loss of ₹7 crore. For instance, he declared the Land Cruiser at ₹20.91 lakh, the Rolls Royce Cullinan at ₹1.24 crore and the Lexus at ₹50.08 lakh. Records show that someone manufactured the Land Cruiser on January 1, 2024, imported it on November 22, 2024, and registered it on January 17, 2025. Someone paid a life tax of ₹30.69 lakh.

Other vehicles in the case include Land Cruisers registered to Pallapu Goverdhan and Md Naseeruddin, and Lexus cars linked to Ayaan Educational Society and Sama Anvesh Reddy.

BJP demands wider probe

BJP MP M. Raghunandan Rao, in letters to central agencies, sought a probe into Rama Rao’s payments and possible money laundering. “The transaction makes both the buyer and the seller equal beneficiaries of the act of conspiracy,” he said.

Union minister of state for home Bandi Sanjay also questioned if the car was purchased at its true cost or through hidden income. In response, BRS spokesperson Dasoju Sravan demanded that investigations cover luxury car purchases by leaders of all parties. Another leader, Krishank Manne, alleged selective targeting of Rama Rao.