Supreme Court to hear KTR's petition on January 15 in Formula E case investigation
Hyderabad: The Supreme Court on Thursday, January 9, 2025, rejected the request for an immediate hearing of a quash petition filed by KT Rama Rao (KTR), working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), in connection with the Formula E car race case.
The petition, which challenges a ruling from the Telangana High Court, will be heard on January 15, 2025.
The High Court had earlier dismissed KTR’s quash petition regarding the Formula E race and also rejected his request for interim relief. In response, KTR moved the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the High Court's verdict.
Despite requests from KTR’s legal team for an urgent hearing, Chief Justice of India (CJI) refused to intervene, and the matter was listed for hearing next week.
Meanwhile, KTR appeared at the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) office in Banjara Hills on Thursday for questioning regarding the Formula E race. Speaking to the media before the questioning, KTR defended his role in the event, stating, “Everything I did was to enhance the brand image of Hyderabad and Telangana.” He emphasized that no contracts had been awarded to benefit his family under the BRS government.
The ACB investigation is focused on alleged financial irregularities surrounding the February 2023 Formula E race in Hyderabad. Specifically, it concerns the transfer of ₹55 crore from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) to Formula E Operations (FEO) without proper approvals. These funds were intended for a second race, which was eventually canceled following a change in government in December 2023.
BLN Reddy, a key figure in the case, reportedly told the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that he acted on instructions from IAS officer Arvind Kumar, who in turn claimed he was following orders from KTR.
On January 8, the Telangana High Court ruled that KTR could be accompanied by his lawyer during questioning. The court allowed his advocate to observe the investigation proceedings from an adjacent library. KTR had previously insisted on having legal representation during his January 6 visit to the ACB office, citing his right to legal counsel.
The ACB probe also involves 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 investigation, KTR has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning on January 16. The ED is probing potential violations of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) in connection with the case, particularly regarding unauthorized fund transfers abroad.
On January 7, the Telangana High Court rejected KTR's petition to quash the FIR filed against him in the Formula E case, allowing the investigation to continue. The court also turned down his request for a 10-day protection from arrest.
𝐍𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐊𝐓𝐑 𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠
The Supreme Court on Thursday denied the request for an immediate hearing of the quash petition filed by K. T. Rama Rao, the working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi… pic.twitter.com/UKxihP7RBr
— Hyderabad Mail (@Hyderabad_Mail) January 9, 2025
