The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao, known as KTR, is currently caught in the midst of a legal and political storm over allegations of financial irregularities related to the Formula E race. As a consequence, the ACB and ED have launched probes. Responding to the probe by the ACB, KTR has moved the High Court, filing a petition to dismiss the case filed by the ACB and requesting protection from possible arrest.
KTR’s legal team initially filed a lunch motion petition before Justice Sravan Kumar, but it was rejected. The petition was then moved to the Chief Justice’s bench, which instructed the court registry to consider the matter. The High Court is expected to hear the case today, with significant developments anticipated to determine KTR’s legal standing.
Meanwhile, the ED has purportedly joined the fray in intensifying the probe into the scam. The agency is said to be cross-examining fund transfers through the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) accounts regarding whether they were in sync with regulatory norms. Particular focus is being placed on procedural compliance and the management of funds related to the race.
The controversy has also triggered a political uproar, with speculation rife about the possibility of KTR’s arrest. Reacting to the allegations, KTR firmly denied any wrongdoing, asserting that all transactions related to the Formula E race were transparent. He explained that the lease tenders for the Outer Ring Road (ORR) were conducted under the TOT model, generating ₹7,400 crores, which were subsequently utilized for waiving farmer loans.
KTR questioned the basis of the allegations, pointing out that if irregularities had occurred, the tenders would have been canceled. Expressing confidence in his ability to address the matter through legal means, he urged his supporters to remain composed amidst the escalating political tension.
With the High Court preparing to hear the case, today’s proceedings will likely set the stage for this highly publicized probe that carries important implications legally and politically.