Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], June 17 (ANI): Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) on Monday firmly denied all allegations related to the Hyderabad Formula E race, saying he had not done anything wrong or shameful.
After appearing before the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) at Telangana Bhavan, KTR defended his decisions as “policy-based” and accused the Congress government of political vendetta.
ACB is investigating allegations of financial irregularities in the organization of the Formula E race in Hyderabad in 2023 during the BRS regime. The alleged misuse of Rs 44-55 crore, including improper transfer of funds by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) to London-based Formula E Operations (FEO) without due process.
The fund transfer allegedly took place despite the Model Code of Conduct being in place, raising questions about the government’s adherence to electoral guidelines. KTR, the then Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, is accused of instructing officials to ensure HMDA covered the costs of a second edition of the event that never occurred.
He criticised Revanth Reddy for allegedly avoiding an Assembly discussion on the Formula E race, saying the Chief Minister fled from the discussion when he suggested debating the matter before four crore people instead of within four walls.
KTR drew a sharp contrast between the two administrations, claiming that while the KCR government brought the Formula E race to Hyderabad and strengthened the city’s prestige, the current Congress government has tarnished Telangana’s reputation worldwide with beauty contests.
While addressing the mediapersons, KTR said, “Let’s discuss Formula E in front of 4 crore people, not within four walls. Revanth Reddy ran away. I have enhanced the global reputation of Telangana, not brought it down,” stressing that the decision to organise the second edition of Formula E was based on the success of the first event.
He also challenged Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, accusing him of dodging an open debate on the issue. “Revanth didn’t have the courage to debate me in front of the people of Telangana,” KTR said.
KTR claimed he had even offered to undergo a lie detector test, but Revanth had avoided it. He said the money transferred for Formula E was made to the organising agency’s official bank account, as per procedure, and asked, “Where is the corruption here?”
He cited former IPS officer RS Praveen Kumar’s observation that invoking the ACB in a non-corruption case was “unprecedented in his 26-year career.” KTR also alleged that ACB officials asked “irrelevant and prepared questions,” reportedly written by someone named Chittinayudu.
KTR did not hold back in his criticism of the Chief Minister. “He wants to parade KCR before the Kaleshwaram Commission, summon Harish Rao, and harass me with ACB inquiries. This is his political vendetta,” he said.
He called Revanth a “cheap Chief Minister with cheap politics” and said, “They are running away from their commitments and resorting to diversionary politics.”
On the possibility of his arrest, KTR said the BRS was not afraid of being jailed. “If needed, I am ready to go to jail again for Telangana. We won’t be cowed by notices or threats. We’ve gone to jail during the Telangana movement too,” he said.
“If there is political pressure to arrest me, let them go ahead. We will still fight,” KTR added. “We will appear for inquiry not just three times but thirty times if needed.”
KTR also attacked the Congress government’s performance, accusing it of breaking several key promises.
He pointed out that the Kamareddy Declaration, which assured 42 per cent reservation for BCs, had been forgotten. He criticised the withholding of Rythu Bandhu benefits, the unfulfilled promise of Rs 2 lakh government jobs, and the denial of Rs 2,500 monthly aid for women.
“The youth, women, farmers, and BC communities are watching every betrayal,” KTR warned.
Marking June 21 as the day when the Kaleshwaram Project was dedicated to the nation, KTR called for statewide celebrations. He accused the Congress government of trying to belittle Kaleshwaram and target the leaders who built Telangana’s pride.
KTR also claimed that the Congress and the BJP were working together behind the scenes. “The Congress-BJP collusion and commission politics have been exposed. You may register 1 or 1,000 fake cases–we will continue to question you,” he said.
“Revanth must be ready for a lie detector test if he dares,” he challenged the CM. (ANI)
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