Telangana ACB summons KTR for questioning in Formula E race corruption case​on January 3, 2025 at 12:40 pm

Telangana ACB summons KTR for questioning in Formula E race corruption case

​Telangana ACB summons KTR for questioning in Formula E race corruption case Telangana ACB summons KTR for questioning in Formula E race corruption case   

The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) issued a notice to BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR), summoning him for questioning on January 6 in connection with alleged irregularities in organising the Formula E race during the previous BRS regime. Notices were also issued to other accused in the case.

The ACB, on December 19, named KTR as the prime accused in an FIR alleging corruption, fund mismanagement, and violations of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Former Municipal Administration and Urban Development Principal Secretary Arvind Kumar and ex-Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) Chief Engineer BLN Reddy were also named in the FIR. The case revolves around alleged unauthorised payments of Rs 45 crore to the race organisers, resulting in a Rs 8 crore penalty imposed by the Reserve Bank of India on the Telangana government.

Meanwhile, KTR Rao obtained interim relief from the Telangana High Court, which directed the ACB not to arrest him until a decision is taken on his petition, whenever that may be. However, the court allowed the state probe agency to continue its investigation, meaning the ACB retains the authority to summon KTR and other accused for questioning.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also probing the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and has summoned KTR to appear on January 7. BLN Reddy, the third accused in the Formula E Race case, did not appear before the ED in Hyderabad on Thursday, 2 January.

Responding to the allegations, KTR has vowed to address the matter legally, while his sister, BRS MLC Kavitha, labelled the case a politically motivated “scripted drama” by the Congress government.