KTR Files Discharge Petition in Formula E Race Case
BRS leader KT Rama Rao seeks to be cleared in the Formula E race irregularity case filed by the Telangana ACB.
In a significant legal move, Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) has approached the Nampally Court to seek his removal from the ongoing Formula E race case. The discharge petition, filed on Monday, aims to clear his name from the allegations registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) regarding financial irregularities during the previous BRS administration.
The Core of the Allegations
The case, which has drawn intense scrutiny, revolves around the organization of the Formula E race held in Hyderabad in 2023. The Telangana ACB registered the case in 2024, focusing on alleged irregularities in payments made by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) to the London-based Formula E Operations (FEO).
Investigators are looking into whether funds were transferred without following the mandatory due process. The legal complexities have escalated further as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with this matter.
Court Timeline and Legal Battle
The Nampally Court is set to hear the discharge petition on October 30. This follows a period of delays; previously, the Special ACB Court had adjourned hearings to late 2026 after certain accused entities failed to appear. The investigation specifically targets decisions made during KTR's tenure as the Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development.
The BRS has remained vocal in its defense, accusing the current Congress government of engaging in political vendetta. Party leaders have alleged that central and state investigative agencies are being weaponized to target opposition figures.
KTR Counter-Attacks with Radial Road Allegations
While fighting his own legal battle, KTR has turned the spotlight on the current administration. In a scathing open letter to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, he raised serious concerns regarding a Rs 3,296-crore tender process for the Radial Road-2 project.
The allegations include:
- Irregularities in the allocation of contracts for the 81.15-km greenfield expressway.
- The disqualification of bidders who had reportedly offered lower prices.
- The awarding of project packages at rates allegedly much higher than initial estimates.
KTR has demanded the immediate cancellation of these tenders and a comprehensive inquiry, urging the government to disclose all tender documents to ensure transparency in the construction of the expressway stretching from the Outer Ring Road at Budvel to NH-167N near Kodangal.