Formula-E Race Case: No Relief for KTR, FIR Quashing Petition Dismissed by Telangana HC

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court dismissed BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao's plea to quash the FIR related to the Formula E race case. 

Additionally, the court revoked the interim protection from arrest granted to him, allowing the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to proceed with further investigation.

FIR alleges misuse of funds

The ACB filed the FIR on December 19, accusing Rama Rao, who was the Municipal Administration Minister during the previous BRS regime, of financial irregularities in organising the Formula E race in Hyderabad in 2023. 

The alleged violations include unauthorized payments, some made in foreign currency, causing an estimated loss of ₹55 crore to the state exchequer.

The case was registered under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC dealing with criminal misappropriation, criminal misconduct, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy that allegedly resulted in loss to the government exchequer to the tune of about Rs 55 crore.

Though the race was supposed to be held in February 2024 as well, it was cancelled after the Congress government assumed office in December 2023.

Rama Rao, who was Municipal Administration Minister during the previous BRS regime, was also summoned by the ED for questioning on January 7 over alleged irregularities in conducting the race in Hyderabad.

The FIR named Rama Rao, an MLA now, as prime accused, senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar and retired bureaucrat BLN Reddy as accused no 2 and 3 respectively. 

(With PTI Inputs)