Formula E ‘scam’ case: Lies won’t shatter me, says KTR

Hyderabad: Reacting to the Telangana High Court’s dismissal of the quash petition in the Formula E race case, BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) on Tuesday, January 7 vowed to continue his fight for truth.

He wrote on X, “Mark my words, Our comeback will be stronger than this setback. Your lies won’t shatter me. Your words won’t diminish me. Your actions won’t obscure my vision. This cacophony won’t silence me! Today’s obstacles will give way to tomorrow’s triumph. The truth will shine brighter with time! I respect our judiciary and my unwavering belief that justice will prevail. My fight for truth continues, and soon, the world will also witness it”

In his statement, KTR emphasized his commitment to fighting the allegations as a law-abiding citizen, stating, “I will fight as per the Constitution.”

He clarified that the High Court’s ruling did not imply any guilt on his part concerning the Formula E race case.

The court had previously dismissed his request for relief and revoked interim protection from arrest that he had been granted earlier.

KTR noted that he would be approaching the Supreme Court for justice and planned to seek permission for his lawyers to accompany him during questioning by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials.

Harish Rao reacts

BRS Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao on Tuesday criticised the Telangana High Court’s verdict on the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s (ACB) corruption case against the party’s working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) saying the latter would come out of controversy clean.

Harish Rao accused CM Revanth of framing KTR in “illegal cases,” asserting that the High Court verdict did not confirm any wrongdoing but merely called for an investigation.

“Our legal cell will review the High Court judgement and we will decide on further legal action if needed. KTR has done nothing wrong, and we will face these investigations with confidence,” he told reporters.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned KTR for questioning in the Formula E race case on January 16.

Ponguleti asks why KTR knocked on the court’s door if he was clean

Responding to KTR’s tweet after the High Court’s ruling, revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy questioned why KTR had to run to court if he was clean on Formula-E allegations.

Speaking with the media on Tuesday, he said that showing strength before the courts and institutions was not right and that the truth would certainly come out one day.

Reminding that it was only after BRS leaders sought a probe on the Kaleshwaram project, power purchases during the BRS government, and the Formula-E case, that the state government ordered the probe, Ponguleti said that neither the chief minister nor the Congress party had any intention to take revenge by implicating the family members of BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao in any of these cases.

“Because they perpetrated wrongdoings in the system, things are getting exposed now. If KTR thinks that by going to jail he will become the chief minister, he has to remember that Kavitha went to jail much before him. Once Arvind Kumar starts speaking on the Formula-E scam, more skeletons will start falling out of the closet,” he said.

Alleging that 2,000 acres of government land in the Rajanna-Sircilla district have been registered in the names of private individuals, he said that these land ‘scams’ in Rangareddy, Medak, and Medchal districts will also get exposed after the forensic audit of land records which will be done after the Sankranthi festival.

Telangana HC dismisses KTR’s plea against ACB case in Formula E scam

KTR’s reaction comes after the Telangana High Court on Tuesday dismissed KTR’s quash petition against the case registered by the ACB in the alleged Formula E scam. The High Court also turned down a request by KTR’s lawyers who sought protection from arrest for 10 days.

The court, which reserved its orders on the quash petition on December 31, pronounced the same on Tuesday, paving the way for an investigation into the high-profile case. During the hearing of the quash petition, the High Court had barred the ACB from arresting KTR.

During the arguments, Advocate General A Sudershan Reddy, representing the state government, informed the court that Rs 46 crore in British Pounds were paid to Formula E Operations Limited (FEO), citing clear violations of rules.

The government counsel submitted to the court that HMDA required permission from the finance department for payment of more than Rs 10 crore but in this case, it made a total payment of Rs 54 crore without any approval. The court was told that Secretariat Business Rules were not followed and that the then minister KTR signed the note file.

KTR’s counsel Siddhartha Dave argued that the sections invoked by the ACB in the FIR are not valid. He submitted to the bench that it was not proper to name KTR as an accused in the case. He also mentioned that the Secretary, Municipal Administration signed the agreement for the Formula E race.