Hyderabad: The BRS working president and MLA K T Rama Rao confessed to have directed the IAS officer and other officials in transferring Rs 54 crore HMDA funds to the Formula E racing Operation Limited for conducting the Formula racing events in Hyderabad without the government's approvals.
The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials on Thursday questioned the former minister and MLA K T Rama Rao for seven hours at the ACB's headquarters in Banjara Hills in connection with the Formula E racing irregularities case.
Around 10 am on Thursday, K T Rama Rao along with his advocate reached the ACB office to appear before the agency for questioning. However, the ACB officials did not allow his Personnel Security Officers (PSOs) inside the ACB office and asked them to wait at the ACB's office reception hall.
K T Rama Rao along with his advocate entered into the ACB office and met the Investigation Officer (IO) of the case Majid Ali Khan. Around 10.30 pm, the ACB officials, who obtained details in the form of documents and others, initiated questioning by asking the former minister's advocate to sit a few meters away from the chamber where the ACB officials grilled K T Rama Rao..
The ACB officials, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) questioned the former minister in connection with the Formula E racing events and its irregularities. The ACB officials focused on Rs 54 crore funds transfer from HMDA and why the then minister K T Rama Rao directed the officials to transfer such funds to the UK based Formula E racing operations Limited.
It was reported that the former minister confessed to have directed the officials to organize such events in Hyderabad by transferring funds from HMDA to a UK based company. However, there were no proper approvals from the government.
"The ACB asked the questions that the then government approved the proposals to conduct racing events in Hyderabad, Cabinet Members approvals, making agreements between state government and UK based company of Formula E racing Operations Limited, funds transfer without finance department clearance and revenue generated by organising racing events in Hyderabad," sources said.
The ACB officials shot more than 35 questions to KT Rama Rao, who also tried to divert the ACB officials attention by telling false statements. Around 1 pm, the ACB officials gave a lunch break for the former minister and he had a light lunch at the ACB office.
Later, the ACB officials resumed grilling the BRS MLA in connection with the electoral bonds which were received from the private firms which initially invested in racing events. IN a reply, K T Rama Rao was understood to have answered that a number of businessmen offered electoral bonds legally.
After finishing the seven hour long questioning, K T Rama Rao came out and spoke to media persons that he cooperated with the ACB officials for questioning and he explained everything in connection with the case. He said he would attend for questioning if the ACB officials are served notices.
