KTR appears before ACB court in Hyderabad Formula E race case
Synopsis
KT Rama Rao walked into the Hyderabad ACB court on 31 July — the first personal appearance since summons in May — in a case that alleges ₹54.88 crore in irregularities and ₹44 crore in electoral bonds linked to the 2023 Formula E race. With the next hearing on 25 August, the legal battle is set to define the BRS's political narrative heading into a prolonged opposition stint.
Key Takeaways
Rama Rao appeared before the special ACB court in Hyderabad on 31 July in the Formula E race case.
All accused, including IAS officer Arvind Kumar and former HMDA Chief Engineer B.L.N.
Reddy , paid sureties of ₹1 lakh each .
The ACB chargesheet, filed in March 2026 , alleges ₹54.88 crore in irregularities in the 2023 Hyderabad Formula E race .
KTR is additionally accused of receiving ₹44 crore in electoral bonds from a sponsorship firm in exchange for race rights.
The court adjourned the hearing to 25 August ; KTR has denied all charges, calling the case 'bogus'.
Former Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma granted prosecution sanction in November 2024 , enabling the FIR.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao on Friday, 31 July appeared before the special Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court in Hyderabad in connection with the Formula E car race case, marking the first personal appearance of the former minister before the court since summons were issued in May. The case centres on alleged irregularities worth ₹54.88 crore in the hosting of the 2023 Formula E race in Hyderabad during the BRS government's tenure.
What Happened in Court
K.T. Rama Rao, along with co-accused Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Arvind Kumar and B.L.N. Reddy, former Chief Engineer of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), appeared in court in response to the summons. All accused paid sureties of ₹1 lakh each and completed the required legal formalities. The court subsequently adjourned the hearing to 25 August.
Show of Solidarity at Nampally Court
The court appearance drew a visible show of political support. Former Ministers Sabita Indra Reddy and Mahmood Ali, MLA Kaushik Reddy, BRS leader Praveen Kumar, and a large contingent of party workers gathered at the Nampally Court Complex to stand alongside KTR. The turnout underscored the BRS's effort to frame the case as politically motivated.
The Charges Against KTR
According to the chargesheet filed by the ACB in March 2026, approximately ₹55 crore was allegedly transferred to a foreign firm in violation of regulatory norms during the 2023 Formula E race in Hyderabad. K.T. Rama Rao has been named accused number one in the case. He is additionally accused of receiving ₹44 crore in electoral bonds from a sponsorship company, allegedly in exchange for granting it the right to organise the race — an allegation he has firmly denied, calling the case a 'bogus case'.
Timeline of the Investigation
The ACB registered a case against KTR, Arvind Kumar, and B.L.N. Reddy in December 2024 over alleged financial irregularities in the Formula E deal. After a nine-month investigation, the bureau submitted its report to the state government and sought the Governor's sanction to prosecute the accused. Then Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma granted prosecution sanction in November 2024. An FIR was subsequently registered on a complaint by M. Dana Kishore, Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development, who stated that foreign remittances were made without prior approvals from relevant regulatory authorities — resulting in an additional tax burden of ₹8.06 crore on the HMDA. The ACB questioned KTR on four separate occasions before the chargesheet was filed.
What Comes Next
With the next hearing scheduled for 25 August, the case is expected to move into substantive arguments. The outcome carries significant political weight for the BRS, which has been in opposition since losing the 2023 Telangana assembly elections to the Indian National Congress (Congress). Legal observers will watch whether the court frames charges at the next date or grants additional time to the parties.
Point of View
MLAs, and party workers in tow — signals that the party intends to fight this in the court of public opinion alongside the court of law. What the case ultimately tests is whether Telangana's anti-corruption machinery, activated under a Congress government against a key BRS figure, can withstand scrutiny of its own process integrity. The electoral bond angle, if proven, would mark one of the more concrete linkages between race-hosting rights and political funding — a pattern that has rarely been prosecuted to conclusion in India. The 25 August date is the first real indicator of how fast the court intends to move.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Formula E race case against KT Rama Rao?
The case involves alleged financial irregularities of ₹54.88 crore in the hosting of the 2023 Formula E car race in Hyderabad during the BRS government's tenure. The ACB chargesheet, filed in March 2026, alleges that around ₹55 crore was transferred to a foreign firm in violation of regulatory norms, and that KTR received ₹44 crore in electoral bonds from a sponsorship company in exchange for race rights.
Why did KT Rama Rao appear in court on 31 July?
KT Rama Rao appeared before the special ACB court in Hyderabad on 31 July in response to summons issued in May. He, along with co-accused IAS officer Arvind Kumar and former HMDA Chief Engineer B.L.N. Reddy, paid sureties of ₹1 lakh each and completed other legal formalities.
When is the next hearing in the Formula E case?
The special ACB court adjourned the hearing to 25 August after the accused completed formalities on 31 July. That date is expected to be significant for determining whether charges are formally framed.
Who else is accused in the Formula E case?
Along with KT Rama Rao, who is named accused number one, IAS officer Arvind Kumar (former Special Chief Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development) and B.L.N. Reddy (former Chief Engineer, HMDA) are co-accused in the case.
How did the Formula E case prosecution begin?
The ACB registered a case in December 2024 after a nine-month investigation. The then Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma granted sanction to prosecute in November 2024, following which an FIR was registered on a complaint by Principal Secretary M. Dana Kishore, citing unauthorised foreign remittances that imposed an additional ₹8.06 crore tax burden on the HMDA.
