Formula E race case: ACB quizzes KTR for eight hours; BRS leader accuses CM Revanth of vendetta politics

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) accused chief minister A Revanth Reddy of using State institutions for political vendetta and hiding his own governance failures.

KTR was grilled by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for over eight hours at their headquarters here on Monday in connection with the alleged irregularities in the Rs 54 crore Formula E race case. This is the second time KTR has appeared for questioning before the ACB since January.

KTR told to submit all mobile phones linked to Formula E transactions by June 18

Sources revealed that during the questioning on Monday, ACB officials asked former minister KTR to submit his mobile phone as part of the investigation into alleged irregularities in the Hyderabad Formula E race.

However, KTR reportedly informed the officials that he had not brought his phone. The ACB has now directed him to hand over all mobile devices used during the period of the Formula E-related transactions by June 18.

Banjara Hills turned into a high-security zone

KTR’s appearance before the ACB for questioning transformed Banjara Hills into a high-security zone, intensifying arrest speculations and prompting the lockdown of key areas.

The security deployment was extensive, comprising one DCP, six ACPs, three Additional SPs, nearly 20 inspectors, 32 sub-inspectors, and 12 platoons of personnel.

Police also temporarily shut down shops in the area, including the popular Café Niloufer, despite customers being present inside. The gates of Telangana Bhavan, located next to the Integrated Command and Control Centre, were also briefly sealed.

KTR challenges CM Revanth with lie detector test

Addressing the media at Telangana Bhavan, after appearing before the ACB for questioning in connection with the Formula E race case, KTR said, “I dared Revanth Reddy to hold a debate in front of 4 crore people, not within four walls. But he ran away.”

He further challenged the chief minister to undergo a lie detector test, claiming he himself has nothing to hide. “I will appear however many times they summon me, because I respect the law. Not even a single rupee of irregularity happened,” KTR asserted.

‘ACB asking questions set by CM’

The BRS leader also alleged that the ACB did not respond when he asked them the same questions posed by the media and clarified that it was CM Revanth Reddy who gave a questionnaire to the ACB.

KTR accused the chief minister of having a ‘sadistic dream’ of imprisoning BRS leaders due to his own past incarceration and added that former CM KCR and Harish Rao were also summoned by the Kaleshwaram Commission as part of the political witch-hunt.

Harish Rao joins the counterattack

Senior BRS leader Harish Rao backed KTR’s remarks and said, “To hide his failures, CM Revanth Reddy has filed 14 false cases against KTR in just 18 months.”

He also slammed the Congress government for bringing disrepute to Telangana by ‘organising Miss World competitions,’ in contrast to KTR’s efforts to bring international acclaim through the Formula E race. “If CM Revanth dares to touch KTR, Congress will be reduced to ashes,” warned Harish Rao.

BRS slams Congress for ‘cheap politics’

Both leaders accused the Congress government of indulging in ‘diversion politics’ by misusing institutions like the ACB to deflect attention from its unfulfilled promises.

“There is more reason to file cases on CM Revanth Reddy for not keeping his electoral promises,” KTR said, adding that despite strong competition from other States, he had worked hard to bring the E-car race to Hyderabad to boost the State’s global image.

The ongoing political confrontation between BRS and the Congress is intensifying, with both sides sharpening their attacks in and out of the official corridors.