Telangana Governor grants approval to prosecute KTR in the Formula E case

Hyderabad: Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma has granted consent for the prosecution of BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) in the alleged irregularities surrounding the Formula E race planned for February 2024. Earlier the Governor permitted to probe the alleged irregularities in December 2024. The Governor has now granted consent to the ACB for prosecution, enabling the agency to file a chargesheet in the case.

A source told Newsmeter that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Hyderabad will closely examine the chargesheet once completed filed by the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in the Formula E case, in which BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao is the prime accused. The source clarified that the ED’s probe, which is being carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), will remain unaffected by the Governor’s recent prosecution sanction granted to the ACB.

“The ED will seek a separate prosecution approval at an appropriate stage, as the ACB sanction has no direct bearing on our investigation,” the source added.

The case pertains to “unauthorised” and “procedurally violated” payments of around ₹55 crore, including foreign currency transfers, made during the previous BRS government.

Hyderabad had hosted Formula E in 2023, but the 2024 edition was cancelled after the Congress government came to power in December 2023.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) wrote to the Governor on September 9 seeking approval to proceed against KTR. The agency also sought to prosecute senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar and chief eningeer B L N Reddy.

All three were booked in December 2024 under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC sections related to criminal misappropriation, breach of trust, misconduct, and conspiracy.

KTR, who was earlier questioned by the ACB, has maintained that the transfer of funds to the organisers was his decision as the then Municipal Administration Minister.

He said the intention was to ensure Hyderabad hosted the event and claimed there was no corruption involved. He also said he was willing to undergo a lie-detector test.

Addanki Dayakar Backs Inquiry

Congress MLC Addanki Dayakar supported the Governor’s decision and rejected claims of political vendetta.

“Approving the Governor’s permission for an inquiry against KTR is a constitutionally valid decision.”

He accused TRS/BRS leaders of misleading the public:

“TRS leaders are spreading false propaganda. They keep repeating that this is an act of political vendetta. How many more times will they keep saying the same thing?”

Dayakar said the case must be tested legally: “If someone commits a mistake, everyone is equal before the law.”

He added that the present government believes irregularities occurred:

“In the Formula E case, the government believes that KTR did wrong. The government has sought an investigation in a legal and lawful manner.”

Dayakar said public money must be safeguarded: “The government is the guardian of the people’s money. The then BRS government committed mistakes in that matter.”

He criticised BRS’ defence strategy: “BRS is trying to escape by making baseless arguments.”

He concluded: “As a minister, KTR did wrong. If he believes he did no wrong, let him prove it before the law.”

Harish Rao Condemns Move as Political Targeting

Former minister T. Harish Rao called the development “the height of political vendetta.” “This is the height of political vendetta against our party Working President KTR.”

He accused Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of misusing his position: “Being in a constitutional position, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is trying to suppress the voices that question him, which is deplorable.”

Harish Rao claimed the Congress government is re-examining a fully transparent process: “In the Formula E race matter, which was handled with full transparency, the Congress government has been plucking feathers off an egg for two years.”

He said the Chief Minister intends to target KTR: “Revanth Reddy’s intention is to trouble KTR, who enhanced Hyderabad’s brand image, by filing false and illegal cases.”

Harish Rao added that KTR is being targeted for criticising the government: “It is undemocratic to derive pleasure by filing illegal cases against KTR, who has been continuously exposing the failures of the government.”

He alleged political motives ahead of polls: “The public is observing these petty dramas staged for political gain ahead of local body elections.”

He said BRS leadership will stand behind KTR: “Illegal cases cannot break the morale of KTR and BRS leaders. BRS stands fully behind KTR. We will legally counter Revanth Reddy’s vindictive attitude.”

Revanth Reddy’s Earlier Allegations

Earlier this month, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy publicly claimed that the Governor had delayed approving the prosecution request.

He said the file had been “held up with the Governor for two months” and questioned alleged coordination between the BRS and BJP.

At a Jubilee Hills bypoll rally, he accused KTR of misusing electoral bonds:

CM Reddy alleged: • That KTR “collected ₹50 crore in electoral bonds from a company after awarding a contract in the name of the Formula E race.”

• That the ACB had sought permission to arrest KTR based on “available evidence.”

He also questioned the lack of central action in other alleged irregularities such as the Kaleshwaram project:

“Why were the Centre and the CBI not acting? Why was no permission being given to arrest KCR, Harish Rao or KTR?”

CM Revanth further claimed that BRS could eventually align with the BJP, citing remarks by suspended BRS MLC K. Kavitha.

What’s Next

With the Governor’s approval, the ACB is expected to advance its investigation. The political debate is likely to intensify as both BRS and Congress frame the case as either a legal necessity or a politically motivated move.