BRS Working President and former Telangana minister K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) appeared before the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Court in Hyderabad on Friday in connection with the Formula E case. The court took cognizance of the 77-page chargesheet filed by the ACB and directed KTR to execute a personal bond of ₹1 lakh along with two sureties. Former Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) Commissioner Arvind Kumar and former Chief Engineer B.L.N. Reddy also appeared before the court during the proceedings. After hearing the matter, the court adjourned the case until August 25 for further proceedings.
The case is linked to the Formula E race held in Hyderabad on February 11, 2023, near Hussain Sagar Lake. Following the successful event, the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) Department entered into an agreement with Formula E Operations (FEO) to conduct another race on February 10, 2024. As part of the agreement, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) transferred ₹55 crore to FEO during the tenure of the BRS government. The payment and the decision-making process surrounding the agreement later came under the scanner of investigating agencies.
In January 2024, Formula E Operations announced the cancellation of the scheduled Hyderabad race, stating that certain conditions of the agreement had not been fulfilled. The cancellation occurred after the Congress government came to power in Telangana, although the agreement had been signed during the previous BRS administration. The ACB is investigating the circumstances surrounding the payment and related decisions, while the court will continue hearing the matter on the next scheduled date, August 25.
