A legal case has been filed against K.T. Rama Rao (KTR), the working president of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), over alleged financial irregularities involving a Rs 45-crore payment for hosting the Formula E race in Hyderabad. The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has named KTR as the main accused in the case, along with former Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) secretary Arvind Kumar and Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) engineer BLN Reddy.
The controversy revolves around payments allegedly made to Formula E Organisers (FOE) for the race held in February 2023. The ACB claims the payments were made without proper clearance from the state Cabinet and violated Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines. Following these transactions, the RBI reportedly fined the Telangana government for unauthorized payments. This penalty was paid by the Congress government, which came to power later in 2023, after investigating alleged financial mismanagement.
KTR, who is also the son of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, has denied any wrongdoing. He stated that the Formula E event was organized to promote Hyderabad on a global platform. Defending his actions, KTR argued that the decision to host the race was made to benefit the city. Supporters of KTR, including senior BRS leader T. Harish Rao, have claimed the case is politically motivated and aimed at targeting KTR for his development efforts.
The case has triggered widespread debate, as it involves prominent figures in Telangana’s political arena. While critics argue that public funds were mishandled during the organization of the Formula E race, KTR has maintained that all procedures were followed. He has also expressed his readiness to face legal consequences, stating that he is willing to go to jail if any illegalities are proven.
As the controversy unfolds, the case has become a focal point in Hyderabad’s political and legal discussions. BRS members and KTR’s supporters continue to stand by him, while the opposition is demanding a deeper investigation. The case remains under scrutiny, with its implications extending to both KTR’s political future and the reputation of the BRS party.
