ACB Moves Court to Impound KTR's Passport in Formula E Funds Case

The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau has approached a court seeking to impound the passport of BRS working president KT Rama Rao, intensifying proceedings in the Formula E case. The agency has made the same request for three other accused: former MA&UD special chief secretary Arvind Kumar, former HMDA chief engineer BLN Reddy, and former sports consultant G V L N Kiran Malleswara Rao.

The case concerns the alleged irregular transfer of roughly Rs 55 crore in government funds for the Formula E race held in Hyderabad in 2023, during the previous BRS government. Investigators claim the money was released without the mandatory approvals of the state cabinet, the finance department, or the Reserve Bank of India.

The FIR was registered on December 19, 2024, after the Congress government assumed office. A chargesheet followed in March 2026, naming Rama Rao as the prime accused. The ACB has accused him and other officials of financial and procedural violations.

Rama Rao has denied any wrongdoing and stated that he will cooperate with the judicial process. He last appeared before the Nampally Special ACB Court on September 18, and the matter is next listed for hearing on October 30.

Speaking to reporters after an earlier court appearance, the BRS leader rejected the allegations and accused the ruling Congress government of waging "malicious propaganda" against the Opposition while neglecting governance. He said that since the Congress came to power three years ago, its focus has been on targeting Opposition figures, and alleged that the government was attempting to harass former chief minister KCR and other BRS leaders.

Defending the Formula E event, Rama Rao described it as an initiative aimed at raising Hyderabad's international profile and drawing investment into the electric-vehicle sector.