Hyderabad: The Metropolitan Court in Hyderabad today (Aug 4, 2004) issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against the Union Minister for Shipping and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K Chandrasekhar Rao in a cheating case.

Taking cognizance of a private complaint lodged by an advocate N Prahalad, the 5th Metropolitan Magistrate M Gandhi issued the warrant against Rao and asked him to appear before the court.

Prahalad, who is also a TRS activist, informed the court that Rao had collected a huge amount of money from the party activists who wanted party tickets, before the last general elections in the State.

Rao neither returned the money nor deposited it in the party's account, Prahalad, who unsuccessfully tried to get party ticket to contest election from Mahaboobabad in Warangal district, alleged in his complaint.

Prahalad said he served notices to TRS president Rao but there was no acknowledgement received from him.

Meanwhile, the counsels for Rao filed recall petition before the court urging to withdraw the warrant.