Thu Dec 19 12:06:14 UTC 2024: ## Former Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao Accused of Corruption in Formula E Race Deal

**Hyderabad, [Date]** – A corruption case has been filed against former Telangana minister KT Rama Rao, alleging misuse of government funds in connection with the 2017 Formula E race held in Hyderabad. The case, filed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), accuses Mr. Rao of violating the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) during his tenure as Municipal Administration and Urban Development minister.

The ACB alleges that ₹45 crore (approximately $5.4 million USD) was illegally paid to Formula E Operations (FEO), the race organizer, in violation of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines. These payments, reportedly made without necessary approvals from the state cabinet or Finance Department, resulted in an ₹8 crore fine levied by the RBI on the then-Telangana government. The fine was subsequently paid by the current Congress government.

Along with Mr. Rao, IAS officer Arvind Kumar and former Hyderabad Municipal Development Authority Chief Engineer BLN Reddy are also implicated. The ACB previously alleged that ₹55 crore was paid to the organizers based on Mr. Rao’s verbal orders.

Mr. Rao, son of former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, denies any wrongdoing, claiming the agreement was transparent and all payments were made legitimately. He accuses the current Congress government, led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, of politically motivated targeting, following the BRS party’s defeat in last year’s state elections. He has challenged Mr. Reddy to a public debate in the state assembly on the matter. The cabinet clearance for the case was granted on Monday.

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