Full Breakdown
ACB Seeks to Impound Passports of BRS Leader K.T. Rama Rao and Three Associates in Formula E Case
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed a petition in the Nampally Special ACB Court requesting that the passports of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao and three co-accused—former Municipal Administration special chief secretary Arvind Kumar, former HMDA chief engineer B.L.N. Reddy, and sports consultant G V L N Kiran Malleswara Rao—be impounded. The move follows a chargesheet filed in March 2026 that names KTR as the prime accused in alleged irregularities surrounding the 2023 Formula E race held in Hyderabad.
Background & Context
The case stems from the transfer of roughly Rs 55 crore (approximately US$ 6.6 million) from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) to Formula-E Operations Limited (FEO), a United Kingdom-registered company. Sources allege that the funds were released without the mandatory approvals of the state cabinet, the finance department, or the Reserve Bank of India. The investigation was launched on December 19, 2024, after the Congress party assumed power in Telangana.
Timeline
- December 19, 2024 – ACB registers the case against KTR and the three officials.
- September 18 – KTR makes his most recent appearance before the Nampally Special ACB Court.
- September 29 – The ACB petitions the court to impound the passports of the four accused; the passport of the fifth accused, a foreign national, cannot be seized.
- October 30 (scheduled) – Next court hearing.
Official Statements & Responses
The BRS legal team, represented by advocate J Laxman, confirmed that the ACB’s petition was filed but said the party has not yet received a court notice and will file a counter-petition once notice arrives. KTR has denied any wrongdoing, describing the Formula E event as an initiative intended to raise Hyderabad’s profile and attract investment to the electric-vehicle sector. He also accused the current Congress government of conducting “malicious propaganda” and targeting BRS leaders since taking office.
Data & Statistics
- Alleged transfer: Rs 55 crore from HMDA to FEO.
- Detailed payment figure cited in the charges: Rs 54,88,87,043 paid to FEO in foreign currency, allegedly violating foreign-exchange regulations.
- Four passports targeted for impoundment; the fifth passport belongs to a foreign national and is beyond local jurisdiction.