The criminal case, wherein a metropolitan magistrate issued a non-bailable warrant against Union minister and Telangana Rashtra Samithi founder K Chandrasekhar Rao, pertains to a complaint lodged by an advocate who tried to secure a party ticket for the Andhra Pradesh assembly election this year.

It all began in May 2004 when Nallapu Prahlad filed a complaint for cheating and criminal breach of trust against KCR.

On May 10, Fifth Metropolitan Magistrate M Gandhi took cognisance of the case and issued summons to KCR, asking him to appear in court on June 26.

The magistrate then gave him time till August 4, and when he failed to appear the warrant was issued.

In his petition, Prahlad alleged that the TRS president had collected Rs 10,005 from him on the assurance that he would be given ticket to contest from Mahbubabad constituency in Warangal district.

An unsigned receipt was given to him.

However, the seat was allotted to the Congress as part of electoral understanding.

Prahlad said he joined the party because he was impressed with KCR's claim that his aim was to achieve a separate Telangana state.

He said he quit as public prosecutor in Ranga Reddy district after joining the party.

In his complaint, Prahlad said the TRS chief announced that the party would contest all the 107 seats in Telangana and called for applications from interested candidates.

KCR collected around Rs 77 lakh from 771 people for the 107 seats, but later announced the alliance with the Congress, wherein the TRS was to contest only 42 seats.

When those who did not get tickets asked for their money, they were threatened.

Moreover, the amount collected was not deposited in the party fund. Prahlad claimed that he had sufficient evidence to prove the case, filed under Sections 409, 419 and 420 of Indian Penal Code.

KCR did not respond to the summons and unsuccessfully tried to secure a stay from the Andhra Pradesh high court on the case proceedings.

The magistrate issued the warrant against him on Wednesday.

KCR's counsel filed a recall petition before the magistrate, seeking withdrawal of the warrant.