Hyderabad: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has approached the court seeking the impounding of the passports of former minister and BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) and three other accused in the Formula E race case.
The move is aimed at restricting their ability to travel abroad while criminal proceedings in the case remain pending. The ACB’s plea covers four of the five accused in the case.
The fifth accused, Formula E Operations Limited (FEO), is a UK-based entity represented by its co-founder and chief commercial officer Alberto Longo. The authorities have indicated that passport-related action against the foreign national involves different jurisdictional considerations.
What Is the Formula E Case About?
The case relates to alleged irregularities in the transfer of around ₹55 crore from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) in connection with the Formula E event held in Hyderabad.
The ACB registered the case in December 2024 against KTR, then special chief secretary Arvind Kumar, former HMDA chief engineer B.L.N. Reddy, sports consultant Goveda Kiran Malleswara Rao and FEO.
The agency alleges that the funds were transferred without following mandatory permissions and financial procedures. The ACB filed its chargesheet before the ACB Court at Nampally in March 2026, naming KTR as A1.
Investigators questioned the accused during the probe and examined records related to the payments. The case proceedings are continuing before the court.
KTR has denied the allegations. After appearing before the ACB court on September 18, he said he had brought the Formula E race to Hyderabad as an initiative and maintained that he would appear before the court whenever summoned.
The latest passport plea is therefore a procedural step connected with the ongoing criminal proceedings. It does not by itself establish the guilt of any accused.
The court will now consider the ACB’s request and decide whether the proposed restriction should be imposed.
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