Formula-E Case: ACB Seeks Seizure of KTR’s Passport

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has approached the court seeking the seizure of passports belonging to BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) and three other accused in the Formula-E race case, marking a significant development in the ongoing investigation.

According to the BRS legal team, ACB officials filed a petition before the court on Saturday seeking the seizure of the passports. The move has been made as part of the investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding the Formula-E race conducted in Hyderabad.

The BRS legal team said it had not yet received any formal notice from the court regarding the ACB's request. It added that once notices are served, the legal team will file a counter and present its arguments before the court.

The latest development comes amid a political dispute over the investigation. KTR had on Friday alleged that the Congress government was deliberately targeting opposition parties and subjecting BRS leaders to harassment. He maintained that he would extend full cooperation to the investigation as well as the judicial proceedings in the case.

The ACB registered the case over alleged irregularities in the transfer of government funds for the 2023 Formula-E race held in Hyderabad. The agency has alleged that around ₹55 crore in HMDA funds was transferred without obtaining the necessary approvals and without following prescribed financial procedures.

KTR, along with then-Special Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar, former HMDA Chief Engineer BLN Reddy, and sports consultant Kiran Malleswar Rao, among others, has been named as an accused in the case. The ACB registered the case in December 2024 and filed its chargesheet in March 2026.

Responding to the case, KTR alleged that the Congress government had focused on targeting opposition leaders since assuming power. He claimed that the government was attempting to trouble KCR and the BRS leadership.

KTR also defended the decision to organise the Formula-E event, stating that it was intended to give Hyderabad greater international recognition and attract substantial investments into the electric vehicle (EV) sector.