K. T. Rama Rao Appears Before the ACB Regarding Formula-E Race Investigation
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Hyderabad, Jan 9 (NationPress) Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao appeared before the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) today, as part of the investigation into the Formula-E race case.
Joined by his attorney Ramachandra Rao, the former minister arrived at the ACB headquarters in Banjara Hills at approximately 10.10 a.m., under strict security measures.
KTR is expected to be interrogated based on the information provided by Special Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar, who underwent questioning for six hours on the preceding day.
The investigative team will likely examine KTR's involvement as the former minister of Municipal Administration and Urban Development, particularly regarding his approval of the agreement to host the Formula-E race in 2023 when the BRS was in power.
Arvind Kumar, who held the position of Special Chief Secretary in the department, was asked about the directives he had received for transferring funds to the UK-based Formula-E Operations (FEO).
KTR, Arvind Kumar, and ex-chief engineer of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), BLN Reddy, are accused of unlawfully transferring around Rs 55 crore to FEO for the second round of the Formula-E race in Hyderabad.
Last month, the ACB filed an FIR against these individuals for purported financial misconduct by HMDA regarding payments to FEO and related entities, bypassing standard financial protocols.
KTR received a summons from the ACB on January 6, but he left the office when his lawyer was not permitted to attend the questioning.
He requested that the ACB postpone his interrogation until the Telangana High Court made a decision on his quash petition.
The ACB issued him a fresh notice the same day, instructing him to return on January 9. The High Court subsequently dismissed KTR's petition to quash the FIR and declined to issue an order preventing his arrest.
On KTR's request, the Telangana High Court permitted the presence of a lawyer during the questioning, allowing the attorney to stay at a visible distance from KTR. He was instructed to provide the names of three lawyers, with one being authorized to be present during the interrogation.
