HYDERABAD: BRS Working President K T Rama Rao on Monday appeared before the Telangana government's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) as part of its ongoing inquiry in the .
Speaking to reporters at the BRS headquarters here prior to his appearance, Rama Rao called the investigation against him "political harassment" and accused the Congress government of trying to divert public attention from its "failure" to fulfill the election promises.
"May be, they will arrest me. But, one thing is sure. We had gone to jail earlier for the sake of Telangana (statehood). We are ready to go to jail again over a decision taken to promote Hyderabad's brand image. Ready to go to jail even 100 times. But, we will not spare the Congress government (on its poll promises)," he said.
He added that truth will triumph in the end.
Grilled for seven hours
HYDERABAD: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday questioned BRS working president and former minister KT Rama Rao for the second time in connection with alleged irregularities in the conduct of the Formula E race held in Hyderabad during the BRS regime.
Rama Rao appeared at the ACB office around 10 am and was questioned for nearly seven hours. The interrogation focused on his role in the alleged financial violations, particularly payments made to Formula E Operations (FEO) without following due procedures. Officials also reportedly asked the Sircilla MLA to submit the mobile phones he used between 2021 and 2024.
Anticipating protests, police enforced tight security at the ACB office and Telangana Bhavan, erecting barricades and restricting media access. Only the vehicles of Rama Rao and his legal team were allowed inside. A popular eatery, Niloufer Cafe, was temporarily shut, and customers were asked to vacate.
‘Not afraid of jail’
Tension prevailed as large numbers of BRS supporters gathered near the Telangana Bhavan, fearing a possible arrest. Rama Rao left the ACB office shortly after 5 pm.
Addressing the media at the party office later, Rama Rao dismissed the case as a ‘hollow case’ (lotta peesu case). “I’ve enhanced Telangana’s global reputation, not tarnished it,” he said, defending the race as a policy decision of the previous government.
Saying BRS leaders were no strangers to jail, he added: “If needed, I’m ready to go to jail again for Telangana. We won’t be cowed by notices or threats. We’ve gone to jail during the Telangana movement too.”
“If there is political pressure to arrest me, let them go ahead. We will still fight. We will appear for inquiry not just three times but thirty times if needed,” Rama Rao said, adding that if arrested, he would “take rest in jail.”
The BRS Working President, who was the Municipal Administration Minister during the previous BRS regime, was questioned by the ACB in January this year in connection with the Formula E race case.
The ACB had registered a case against him over alleged payments, most of them in foreign currency without approvals, for conducting the Formula E race in Hyderabad in February 2023 during the previous BRS government.
Though the race was supposed to be held in February 2024 as well, it was cancelled after the Congress government assumed office in December 2023.
The BRS leader maintained that the race and the payments were part of efforts of the BRS government to promote Hyderabad's brand image.
(With inputs from PTI)