Fri Dec 20 16:56:59 UTC 2024: ## ED Launches Money Laundering Probe Against BRS Leader K.T. Rama Rao Over Formula-E Race
**Hyderabad, India –** The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a money laundering case against Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K.T. Rama Rao (KTR), son of former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, and others, linked to alleged financial irregularities surrounding the Formula-E race held in Hyderabad in February 2023.
The ED’s Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), filed on Friday, stems from a Telangana Police Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) FIR registered on Thursday. The ACB complaint names KTR as accused number one, followed by senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar and retired bureaucrat B.L.N. Reddy. The case centers on alleged payments totaling approximately ₹55 crore (approximately $6.7 million USD), some reportedly in foreign currency without proper approvals, made to organize the race.
KTR, who served as Municipal Administration Minister during the BRS regime and played a key role in bringing the race to Hyderabad, has denied any wrongdoing, claiming the payments were legitimate and transparent. However, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy alleges that KTR saved the state government approximately ₹500 crore (approximately $60.8 million USD) by halting further funds to the race organizers.
This marks the second money laundering case involving the family of BRS chief K. Chandrashekhar Rao. His daughter, K. Kavitha, was previously arrested by the ED in connection with the Delhi excise policy case and is currently out on bail.
The Telangana High Court has granted KTR interim protection from arrest until December 30th, while considering his petition to quash the ACB FIR. The Governor, Jishnu Dev Varma, recently granted the ACB permission to file the case against KTR. The Formula-E race, originally scheduled for February 2024, was cancelled after the Congress party assumed power in December 2023.
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