KTR Appears Before ACB Court in Formula E Case, Hearing Adjourned to August 25

BRS Working President K. T. Rama Rao (KTR) appeared before the Special Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Court in Nampally on Friday in connection with the Formula E race case, along with the other accused. After hearing the matter, the court adjourned the case to August 25, while the trial is yet to begin.

Appearing before the court in compliance with its directions were senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar and former Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) Chief Engineer B. L. N. Reddy, who have also been named as accused in the case. This was KTR's first appearance before the court since the ACB filed its chargesheet in March. As directed by the court, KTR furnished a personal bond of ₹1 lakh. His counsel, Lakshman Jakkula, stated that the proceedings are still at the preliminary stage and that the next hearing has been scheduled for August 25.

The Telangana ACB filed its chargesheet in March, naming KTR as the principal accused, along with Arvind Kumar, B. L. N. Reddy, and two other individuals. The case relates to alleged irregularities in payments made for the proposed 2024 Formula E race in Hyderabad during the previous BRS government.

Investigators allege that around ₹55 crore was transferred, including payments in foreign currency, in violation of prescribed procedures and financial regulations. The ACB is examining whether the transactions resulted in financial irregularities and misuse of public funds.

Hyderabad successfully hosted the first Formula E race in February 2023. However, the second edition, planned for 2024, was cancelled after the Congress government assumed office in December 2023.

The ACB registered the case in December 2024 under the Prevention of Corruption Act and relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including criminal breach of trust, criminal conspiracy, and alleged misappropriation of funds. The prosecution moved forward after the then Governor Jishnu Dev Varma granted sanction to prosecute KTR, while the Central Government approved prosecution against Arvind Kumar.

KTR has consistently denied all allegations, maintaining that the decision to release funds was taken solely to enhance Hyderabad's international reputation by hosting a global motorsport event. He has asserted that no corruption was involved, claiming the funds remain with the race organisers and that neither he nor the other officials engaged in any illegal activity.