Telangana ACB set to proceed against KTR in Formula E race case

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Hyderabad, Dec 16 (IANS) With Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma giving his nod, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is set to initiate action against Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president and former minister K. T. Rama Rao in Formula E race case.

The matter was discussed during the State Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday.

Minister for Information and Public Relations Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy revealed that the Governor has given permission to try KTR in the case will be taken by the ACB in accordance with the law.

The Chief Secretary will forward the file signed by the Governor to the ACB tonight or on Tuesday for further action, the minister said.

Srinivas Reddy told media persons that he would not say anything about KTR’s arrest. He remarked that law will take its own course.

Last month, the Congress government had requested the Governor to grant permission to the ACB to register a case against KTR for alleged misuse of power and diversion of funds for conducting the Formula-E race.

There are allegations that as then minister for industry KTR sanctioned funds for the race bypassing established procedures.

With the Governor giving his nod under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the ACB is likely to register a case against KTR, issuing him notices and conducting raids on certain individuals and officials connected to the alleged scam.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka had said in January that the Formula E race was conducted last year by the previous government to benefit a company and Hyderabad and Telangana were in no way benefited from it.

The then government had agreed to pay Rs. 110 crores to the company and out of this Rs.55 crores were paid. The remaining amount was to be paid in two instalments.

Formula E cancelled the second Formula E race (Season 10) scheduled in Hyderabad on February 10, 2024.

The announcement was made after a decision by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department (MAUD) of the Telangana government not to fulfil the Host City Agreement signed on October 30, 2023.

Formula E Operations (FEO) said it was left with no choice other than to formally give notice to MAUD for breach of contract.

The Congress government issued notice to senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar for ‘serious violations’ with regard to the agreement.

The official was asked to explain why the huge financial expenditure of Rs.46 crores plus the tax amount of Rs.9 crores was paid from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) resources even before the agreement was signed.

KTR last month defended the previous government’s decision to bring the Formula E race to Hyderabad and declared that he is ready to go to jail.

Denying the allegations of corruption, KTR said he tried to elevate Hyderabad’s global image, especially through the Formula E race.

–IANS

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Rajasthan CM pays tribute to ASI killed in accident

Jaipur, Dec 21 (IANS) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Friday visited Majra Kath, the native village of Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Surendra Singh Ola in Neemrana, who was killed in an accident, to pay his respects.

Sharma offered floral tributes to a photograph of the late ASI and honoured his memory.

The Chief Minister met with Surendra Singh’s grieving family members and expressed his condolences. He assured the family of all possible support during their time of need.

Accompanying the Chief Minister were Minister of State for Forest and Environment (Independent Charge) Sanjay Sharma, MLA Jaswant Singh Yadav, Baba Balaknath, Devi Singh Shekhawat, Kuldeep Dhankar, and other public representatives.

ASI Surendra Singh Ola succumbed to injuries sustained in a vehicle accident at Akshaya Patra Chauraha, Jagatpura, Jaipur, on December 11. He passed away during treatment at the hospital. His sacrifice and service are remembered with deep respect.

On December 11, an assistant sub-inspector was killed and six others sustained injuries when an escort vehicle in Chief Minister Sharma’s carcade collided with another vehicle in the Jagatpura area.

The incident occurred when Sharma was en route to a Laghu Udyog Bharti event where Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar was to be the chief guest. The accident near Akshaya Patra Chauraha on Jagatpura road involved five police personnel and two civilians who were hurt in the collision between the escort vehicle and a taxi.

Taking to X, the CM expressed condolences saying, “The incident of death of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Shri Surendra ji and injuries to other citizens in an unfortunate vehicle accident in Jaipur today is extremely sad.”

“In this moment of immense grief, our sensitive government stands with the family of the deceased and the injured. After this accident, the concerned officials have been directed to ensure proper medical treatment of the injured,” he added.

–IANS

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Allu Arjun visited theatre despite denial of police permission: Telangana CM

Hyderabad, Dec 21 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said on Saturday that actor Allu Arjun visited Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre for the premiere show of “Pushpa 2”, despite police denying permission, resulting in the stampede that killed a woman and injured her son.

Speaking in the State Assembly, the Chief Minister stressed the police had told the actor not to visit the theatre but he still went there.

He said the police did not give permission since there was only one entry and exit for the theatre and they anticipated a problem if a celebrity visited it.

Revanth Reddy made a statement in the Assembly when AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi raised the issue relating to the December 4 incident at Sandhya Theatre.

The Chief Minister also stated that there would have been no problem if Allu Arjun had only visited the theatre, watched the movie, and left.

“However, while going to the theatre, he conducted a road show by waving at the crowd from his car’s sunroof. Because of this people from all nearby theatres came towards Sandhya Theatre which resulted in the stampede,” he said.

Revanth Reddy said a woman named Revathi died in the incident while her son was injured and went into a coma. “The woman died while holding the hand of her son,” he said.

The ACP went into the theatre, informed the hero about the incident, and told him that there was apprehension of law and order problem but he paid no heed, the Chief Minister revealed, adding that then the DCP went inside and threatened to arrest the hero if he refuses to leave and only then Allu Arjun left in his car.

Even while returning from the theatre, he conducted a road show by waving from the car’s sunroof, he said.

“It is in this context that the police booked a case against the hero and the theatre management. Due to their irresponsible statements, police had to discharge their duties,” he said and slammed the political parties which criticised the arrest of Allu Arjun.

Revanth Reddy also criticised Allu Arjun, and the film producer for not calling on the family of the deceased and the injured boy.

“When such people who behaved with a lack of humanity were taken to the police station, those who served as ministers for 10 years criticised the government,” he said in an apparent dig at BRS leaders and former ministers K.T. Rama Rao and Harish Rao.

The Chief Minister said when the person responsible for the loss of life was called to the police station, they tried to malign the government.

Revanth Reddy said his government gave permission for special shows to promote the film industry. “It does not mean that you keep quiet when they take human lives. Is there a special law for film and political personalities? Our government is working within the framework of the Constitution drafted by Ambedkar,” he said.

The Chief Minister asked if any of the film personalities who queued up to meet the hero after his release from jail met the affected family.

“I don’t know what they think of themselves. You do your business but we will not accept playing with lives. We will not allow this till we are in power,” he added.

–IANS

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