Hyderabad: Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma permitted a probe in the Formula E case involving former minister and BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao, enabling the Anti-Corruption Bureau to proceed with criminal charges. The ACB sent the file to Raj Bhavan on 9 September, and officials noted that the Governor approved the request after the President’s Office sought legal opinion. Moreover, the order cleared the way for further investigation into alleged irregularities worth more than ₹55 crore.
The ACB prepared to file a chargesheet against KTR, former HMDA chief engineer (Projects) B.L.V. Reddy and former special officer Kiran Kumar. Since the Vigilance and Enforcement Directorate already granted prosecution permission against IAS officer Arvind Kumar and BLN Reddy, officials said the case was expected to move faster. KTR appeared before the ACB four times earlier as part of the inquiry.
Formula E case linked to alleged financial violations
The Formula E case stemmed from accusations that ₹54.88 crore was paid to Ace Automobiles (Greenco Group) without any formal agreement for the Formula E-Prix race held in Hyderabad on 11 February 2023. At the time, KTR served as the municipal administration minister. Officials alleged that HMDA transferred funds to the foreign entity ‘Formula E Operations’ without clearance from the Finance Department or the RBI.
The ACB also claimed that HMDA, Greenco and Formula E entities maintained undisclosed understandings for event-related activities. Because of these allegations, the Formula E race resurfaced as a major topic in Telangana politics. Senior officials said the approvals now in place would allow the investigative process to move without procedural hurdles.
Formula E case gains momentum after Governor’s approval
The Governor’s order enabled the ACB to begin formal prosecution steps and complete filing of the chargesheet. Officials said each approval played a crucial role in moving the case toward its next stage. Furthermore, the decision triggered renewed political debate about the previous government’s handling of the international racing event.
The investigation team continued reviewing financial transfers, contract details and inter-agency correspondence linked to the event. They noted that the scrutiny would focus on procedural violations and decision-making patterns during the race preparations. With legal permissions secured, the ACB prepared to advance the case toward courtroom proceedings.