KTR appears in court in Formula E case, hearing on August 25

The Story in Brief

BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao appeared before the Nampally ACB Special Court on Friday in connection with the Formula E car race case, where the hearing was adjourned to August 25. This was his first court appearance since the ACB filed a chargesheet in March naming him as accused number one. The agency alleges over Rs 55 crore was spent from Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority funds for the 2024 race, with payments made in foreign currency without maintaining proper records to evade audit. Co-accused IAS officer Arvind Kumar and former HMDA chief engineer B.L.N. Reddy were also present.

The ACB case invokes the Prevention of Corruption Act, alleging criminal misappropriation, breach of trust, and conspiracy. Governor Jishnu Dev Varma had sanctioned prosecution of Mr. Rao in November last year, while the Centre gave approval for action against the IAS officer. The first Formula E race was held in Hyderabad in February 2023, but the 2024 edition was cancelled after the Congress government took office in December 2023. Mr. Rao has denied the charges, stating the fund transfer was meant to promote Hyderabad's image internationally without any corruption.