KTR arrives at ACB office in Banjara Hills for questioning in Formula E race case
Hyderabad: KT Rama Rao (KTR), working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and former Telangana Minister, arrived at the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) office in Banjara Hills on Thursday, January 9, 2025, for questioning in connection with the Formula E race case.
Speaking to the media earlier at his residence in Nandinagar, KTR defended his involvement, stating, โWhatever I did was to enhance the brand image of Hyderabad and Telangana.โ He added that under the BRS government, no contracts were awarded to benefit his in-laws or his son.
KTR explained that his goal was to position Hyderabad as a key hub for sustainable mobility, noting that the Formula E race was part of a larger vision to promote this transition.
๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐'๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐
Speaking at his Nandinagar residence on Thursday, BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao emphasized his commitment to enhancing the reputation ofโฆ pic.twitter.com/UyzX37Nt3E
โ Hyderabad Mail (@Hyderabad_Mail) January 9, 2025
The ACB investigation centers on alleged financial irregularities related to the Formula E race held in Hyderabad in February 2023. Specifically, it concerns the transfer of โน55 crore from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) to Formula E Operations (FEO) without proper approvals. The funds were meant for a second race, which was ultimately canceled after the change in government in December 2023.
BLN Reddy, another accused in the case, reportedly told the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that he acted under the directions of IAS officer Arvind Kumar. Arvind, in turn, claimed that he was following instructions from KTR.
๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ง๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ซ๐ฒ
BRS party's working president, KTR, visited the ACB office in Banjara Hills on Thursday for questioning related to the Formula E raceโฆ pic.twitter.com/8xegsfyIlw
โ Hyderabad Mail (@Hyderabad_Mail) January 9, 2025
On January 8, 2025, the Telangana High Court ruled that KTR could be accompanied by his lawyer during questioning. Advocate Ramachander was permitted to observe the proceedings from a library adjacent to the investigation room, with a clear view of the questioning. The court also directed that any issues arising during the investigation should be reported the following day for further guidance.
This ruling followed KTRโs earlier visit to the ACB office on January 6, 2025, when he refused to be questioned without his lawyerโs presence. KTR had highlighted the right to legal representation, arguing that the ACB already had all the relevant information regarding his role in the event.
The ACB case investigation involves KTR, former Municipal Administration Secretary Arvind Kumar, and HMDA Chief Engineer BLN Reddy. KTR has denied any wrongdoing and stated his intention to address the allegations in court.
In addition to the ACB inquiry, KTR has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning on January 16, 2025, in connection with the same case. The ED is investigating possible violations of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), specifically regarding unauthorized fund transfers abroad.
On January 7, 2025, the Telangana High Court dismissed KTRโs petition to quash the FIR filed against him in the Formula E case, allowing the investigation to proceed. The court also rejected his request for 10-day arrest protection.
