ACB submits report on Formula E scam, names KTR

The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has submitted its report to the state government on the Formula-E graft case. The ACB will file its chargesheet against former Minister of Municipal Affairs and Urban Development and BRS leader KT Rama Rao, as well as the then Secretary of the department, Arvind Kumar, once the Governor grants permission following the submission of the prosecution report. HMDA chief engineer BLN Reddy and Formula E CEO Kiran Rao have also been named in the report. The ACB reportedly found a quid pro quo arrangement under which the sponsors of the Formula E race had donated Rs 44 crore to the BRS through electoral bonds.

The ACB registered the case on 18 December 2024, and KT Rama Rao was named as accused number one, followed by Arvind Kumar and HMDA chief engineer BLN Reddy as numbers two and three, respectively. The ACB has questioned both Rao and Kumar separately on three occasions. The ACB submitted its report to the chief secretary, who will send it to the Vigilance and Enforcement Department for further action.

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BRS working president KT Rama Rao dismissed the Formula E case as a “bogus” one, claiming that every rupee transferred to Formula E organisers was accounted for and there was no corruption in the case. He said, “If this government has the guts, they should conduct a lie detector test and make me and the chief minister undergo the tests.”

After the Congress government came to power, MAUD secretary Dana Kishore filed a complaint with the ACB about Rs 54.88 crore being paid to Formula E by HMDA without any approvals either from the Cabinet or the Finance department, after the sponsors backed out from organising the second season, citing heavy losses. The Enforcement Directorate had also filed a case on the basis of the case documents provided by the ACB.