Formula E race case: ACB submits report to Telangana govt, seeks sanction to prosecute KTR, others
ACB Seeks Permission to Prosecute KTR in Hyderabad Formula E Race Irregularities Case
Hyderabad’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has taken a big step in the ongoing Formula E race controversy. On Tuesday, the ACB handed over its detailed report to the Telangana government. They want approval to prosecute former minister K.T. Rama Rao (KTR), senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar, and others involved in the alleged irregularities.
This comes after a nine-month investigation into how the previous BRS government handled the Formula E race in Hyderabad. The probe uncovered claims of corruption, including a whopping Rs 44 crore in electoral bonds that the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) allegedly received from a sponsorship company. In return, the company got the rights to organize the high-speed electric car race.
Back in December last year, the ACB filed an FIR against KTR, who was then the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) minister, Arvind Kumar as the former Special Chief Secretary, and B.L.N. Reddy, the ex-Chief Engineer of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA). The case highlights irregularities worth Rs 54.88 crore in the Formula E deal.
The complaint came from MA&UD Principal Secretary M. Dana Kishore. He pointed out that foreign payments went out without the nod from key regulatory bodies, leading to an extra tax hit of Rs 8.06 crore on HMDA. Plus, these payments happened during the Model Code of Conduct for state Assembly elections, without Election Commission approval. The FIR invokes the Prevention of Corruption Act, along with IPC sections 409 for criminal breach of trust and 120B for criminal conspiracy.
ACB officials grilled KTR, Arvind Kumar, and B.L.N. Reddy several times. Before his second questioning on June 16, KTR even feared an arrest.
KTR, the BRS working president, isn’t backing down. He calls the entire Formula E case a "bogus case" and challenges Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to a lie-detector test together. "I pushed hard to bring Formula E to Hyderabad," KTR said. He admitted directing the release of Rs 46 crore from government funds but stressed it went straight to the right account. "Not a single rupee got misused—everything is accounted for. So, where’s the corruption?" he questioned.
Even if prosecution moves forward or charge sheets get filed, KTR believes nothing will stick. He vows BRS will keep fighting the Congress government on its unfulfilled promises and guarantees. KTR wants a live TV showdown with Revanth Reddy for the lie-detector test. "Let the people decide who’s telling the truth," he added, while bringing up an old video of Revanth Reddy caught with Rs 50 lakh in cash bundles.
KTR accuses the current government of using the Formula E race scandal to distract from real issues like public welfare. "We’re not getting sidetracked. BRS will keep holding them accountable on people’s problems," he declared.
This Formula E race case in Hyderabad continues to stir up Telangana politics, with eyes on what the government decides next about the prosecution sanction.
