He was elected as an MLA of Boath (ST) Assembly Constituency of Adilabad district in 2004 elections. He won that elections by defeating strong leader of Telugu Desam Party, Godam Nagesh with a majority of more than 10000 votes. Babu Rao was accused in the human smuggling case along with his party colleague and MLA, Kasipeta Lingaiah and both were arrested in 2007. The case was sidelined because of TRS - Congress close alliance during that period. But the controversy haunted Babu Rao till he lost his seat in 2009 elections.