Today, On 7th January, The Telangana High Court declined to quash the FIR against BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao in connection with the Formula E race case. The FIR, filed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, alleges irregularities in the event’s organization. The court had reserved its decision on December 31 after hearing arguments from both the state government and the defence. This ruling allows the investigation to proceed further.
The Telangana High Court declined to quash the FIR against BRS working president KT Rama Rao in connection with the Formula E race case, thereby lifting the protection against his arrest.
The court had reserved its decision, On December 31, after hearing arguments from both the state government and the defense regarding the case filed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Previously, the court had restricted the ACB from arresting the former minister until a ruling was made, but the latest order removes that protection.
The ACB registered a case against Rama Rao, also known as KTR, on December 19, alleging that unauthorized payments, including some in foreign currency, were made to organize the race in 2023 during the prior administration.
The FIR cites relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) concerning criminal misappropriation, criminal misconduct, criminal breach of trust, and criminal conspiracy, which allegedly led to a loss of approximately Rs.55 crore to the state treasury.
Although the race scheduled for February 2024, it was canceled after the Congress government took office in December 2023. Rama Rao, who served as the Municipal Administration Minister during the previous BRS government, was also summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning on January 7 regarding alleged irregularities in the race’s organization in Hyderabad.
The FIR names Rama Rao, now an MLA, as the primary accused, with senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar and retired bureaucrat BLN Reddy listed as the second and third accused, respectively.
The Formula E Race Case revolves around alleged irregularities in organizing a Formula E motorsport event in Hyderabad, Telangana. The event, held in 2023 as part of the global Formula E Championship, aimed to promote green technology and tourism in the state.
The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) recently filed a complaint against BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao (KTR), accusing him of irregularities in payments, including foreign currency transactions, for organizing the Formula E race in Hyderabad during the previous government’s term. Governor Jishnu Dev Varma had given permission to proceed with legal action against KTR.
The FIR lists KTR as the main accused, along with senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar and retired bureaucrat BLN Reddy as accused numbers 2 and 3. Charges include violations under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC sections for criminal breach of trust and conspiracy.
The government earlier questioned Arvind Kumar about signing the race agreement without proper approval and paying Rs.55 crore, most of it in foreign currency. The controversy deepened after Formula E canceled the Hyderabad E-Prix, planned for February 10, citing contract breaches by the new Telangana government.
This case sparked significant public and political debate, with its outcomes likely to impact Telangana’s legal and political scenario.
However, allegations surfaced regarding corruption and misuse of public funds during its planning and execution.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) registered a case citing possible misconduct involving officials and political leaders. Among those implicated is K.T. Rama Rao (KTR), a prominent leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and a senior Telangana minister. The accusations claim improper allocation of resources, violation of financial norms, and favoritism in contracts.
Recently, the Telangana High Court refused to quash the FIR against KTR, allowing the investigation to continue. The case remains a contentious issue, drawing significant public and political attention.