Hyderabad: Former Telangana minister K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday in connection with the Formula-E race fund transfer investigation. KTR departed from his residence in Gachibowli and arrived directly at the ED office in Basheerbagh. In anticipation of the event, a heavy police deployment of over 200 personnel was arranged outside the ED office, along with tear gas and water cannon vehicles to manage potential unrest.
The investigation centers on the alleged transfer of ₹45.7 crore from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) to a foreign company without requisite RBI approvals. ED officials are questioning KTR based on statements provided by Arvind Kumar, the then Special Chief Secretary of the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Department, and BLN Reddy, the former Chief Engineer of HMDA.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is also probing regulatory violations in the organization of the Formula-E race, while the ED has filed a separate case concerning the unauthorized transfer of funds.
Tensions Escalate Outside ED Office
A large number of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) workers gathered at the ED office in a show of support for KTR, leading to clashes with the police as they attempted to prevent their entry. The situation turned tense but was brought under control.
Earlier, the Telangana High Court dismissed KTR’s petition seeking to quash the FIR filed by the ACB. Subsequently, the Supreme Court also dismissed his plea, marking a significant development in the case and adding urgency to the ED’s interrogation.