Governor gave nod to act against KTR in Formula E-race irregularities, Revanth tells Cabinet

Chief Secretary to send file to ACB in a day or two

The State Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday has decided to proceed against the BRS working president and former Minister K. T. Rama Rao in connection with the alleged release of ₹ 55 crore to the organisers of the Formula E-race held in Hyderabad in 2022.

“We have got the nod from Governor Jishnu Dev Varma to file a case against the former Minister. The relevant file will be forwarded to the Anti Corruption Bureau in a day or two by the Chief Secretary,” said the Chief Minister in the more-than-two-hour-long Cabinet meeting held in the Assembly conference hall.

A major part of the meeting after the officials left centred round the payment of ₹ 55 crore made to the organisers by the previous BRS government. The crux of the issue was the release of payment without following the procedure. KTR had claimed that he had ordered the release of money from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) and issued instructions to the then Principal Secretary Arvind Kumar. The Formula E-race was part of a week-long events under the Telangana E-Mobility week.

It is understood that the Ministers were unanimous in their decision that such action could not be ignored. The meeting was informed that the probe agencies have started inquiry into the affair and action was imminent. The Cabinet was clear that law would take its own course and none of those responsible for the alleged irregularities would be spared. The Chief Minister, it is said, sought the views of his Cabinet colleagues on the pros and cons of the action against KTR.

A Minister on condition of anonymity told The Hindu that everyone in the meeting felt that such ‘illegal’ actions without following due procedures could not be ignored. “If we have decided to act, we should stick to the decision,” the Minister noted.

Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy in an informal chat with reporters in the Assembly lobbies said that a few Bills introduced in the Assembly were discussed in the meeting. He confirmed that the Governor has accorded sanction to act against the former BRS Minister in the Formula E-race. He said the government has already given permission to take action against Mr. Arvind Kumar. “There are three to four officials involved in the Formula E-race scandal,” he noted.

The Cabinet it is believed to have decided to take up all the issues in the Assembly and strongly counter any charges levelled by the Opposition parties more particularly, the BRS. “We are committed to take up for discussion whether it is short discussion or in any other form. There is nothing for the Government to hide,” the Minister pointed out.

Published - December 16, 2024 09:40 pm IST