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The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Congress and BRS share a protection bond: Bandi Sanjay Kumar
Accusing the BRS and Congress of shielding each other's 'corruption' and 'acts of deception', Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has alleged that the two parties are having a mutual understanding to defend each other from 'wrong-doings' as part of a 'protection bond.' He was speaking to mediapersons in Karimnagar after participating in Raksha Bandhan festivities on Saturday. Mr. Sanjay reiterated his demand for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the phone tapping during the previous BRS rule, saying the scope of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) currently probing the case is very limited. The phone tapping was done under the K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) government in violation of the regulations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority, he said, saying, 'This is entirely a matter under the jurisdiction of the Centre. The accused extorted hundreds of crores of rupees from political leaders, businessmen and film actors through phone tapping, he charged. Where did that money go? he asked, saying finding an answer to that is beyond the capacity of SIT officials. Responding to a query, he said, 'We do have trust in the SIT officials. But we have no trust in the Congress government. In cases like irregularities in Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme, power purchase agreements and the Formula E Race, and other scams surfaced during the previous BRS rule, the current Congress dispensation in the State is only delaying under the pretext of investigation without taking any action.' He further alleged that the phones of several politicians including the present Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy were also tapped by the previous BRS government. Can the SIT issue a notice to the Chief Minister and summon him for questioning? Mr Sanjay asked. It is imperative to hand over the phone tapping case to the central investigative agencies to complete the investigation quickly without delays, he insisted. Replying to a question, he said, 'The phones of the ministers, MLAs and MLCs were tapped. If BRS MLAs have any self-respect, they should leave that party.' 'BRS MLC Kalvakunta Kavitha should be served notices and questioned in the phone tapping case,' he said in reply to another query. On BRS working president K T Rama Rao (KTR)'s reported statement to issue a legal notice to him, Mr Sanjay said, 'I am ready to swear before God on phone tapping. Will KTR be ready to accept my challenge?'
Hans India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Arvind Kumar faces fresh ACB summons in Formula E probe
Hyderabad: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has once again issued notices to senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar, directing him to appear for questioning in the Formula E Race case on Thursday. The official has been asked to appear at 11:30 am on Thursday. Earlier, the ACB had sent a notice to Arvind Kumar to appear on July 1. As Kumar has been on a foreign trip for the last month, the investigating agency issued a fresh notice. During earlier questioning, Arvind Kumar reportedly told officials that he had transferred the money on the directions of then Municipal Administration Minister KT Rama Rao. Now, Arvind Kumar has been asked to appear at the ACB office in Banjara Hills on Thursday. The ACB has named BRS working president KT Rama Rao as the prime accused in the FIR, alleging irregularities in the organisation of the Formula E Race. There were also allegations against then MAUD Secretary Arvind Kumar and HMDA Chief Engineer BLN Reddy. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had previously summoned KT Rama Rao and the official in connection with the case.
Hans India
26-06-2025
- Hans India
Formula E Probe: IAS officer Arvind Kumar summoned again
Hyderabad: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), currently probing alleged irregularities in the Formula E Race case, has re-issued summons to IAS officer Arvind Kumar, directing him to appear for questioning on July 1. This marks the second time Kumar has been called in connection with the Formula E investigation. He was previously interrogated for six hours on January 9, during which he reportedly informed officials that the funds transfer in question was made under the direct instructions of the then Municipal Administration Minister, KT Rama Rao. Kumar, who was recently out of the country and has since landed in New Delhi, is expected to arrive in Hyderabad within a day or two. He has been asked to present himself at the ACB office in Banjara Hills. The ACB's First Information Report (FIR) names BRS working president KT Rama Rao as the prime accused in the alleged irregularities surrounding the organisation of the Formula E Race. Allegations also surfaced against the then MAUD Secretary Arvind Kumar and HMDA Chief Engineer BLN Reddy. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had also previously summoned both Rao and the official for questioning.
NDTV
25-06-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Senior IAS Officer Summoned By Anti-Corruption Bureau In Formula E Race Case
Hyderabad: Special Chief Secretary in Telangana, Arvind Kumar, has been summoned by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on July 1 in connection with the Formula E race case. The ACB is probing into alleged irregularities related to the Formula E Race, which was organised when BRS working president KT Rama Rao was the municipal administration and urban development minister. Arvind Kumar has been named as an accused in the FIR registered by the ACB, alongside former minister KT Rama Rao and retired HMDA engineer BLN Reddy. Mr Kumar had informed the state government earlier that he transferred the funds under the directions of the then minister, KT Rama Rao. Whereas, KTR said he took the decision to conduct the games, but procedural details have to be taken care of by officers. In January, Arvind Kumar was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding allegations of violations in the transfer of funds for conducting the Formula E race in Hyderabad. The agency is investigating whether there were any violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) or if money was laundered through the transfer of funds to Formula E Operations (FEO). The investigator asked about the bypassing of rules and regulations in transferring foreign currency from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) bank accounts. They also questioned why no approval was obtained from the state Cabinet or the Finance department to transfer funds. Arvind Kumar, the then Municipal Administration department special chief secretary, reportedly told the ED that the then Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) minister KT Rama Rao instructed him to make the payment immediately, "as any disruption to the Formula E race would damage the state's brand image." The ED further questioned why RBI guidelines were not followed during the fund transfer and sought clarification on Arvind Kumar's interest in approving the payment from HMDA accounts without a proper agreement with the race organisers.
Hans India
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
ACB intensifies Formula E probe, seeks access to KTR's devices
Hyderabad: The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB), currently investigating alleged irregularities in the Formula E Race, has intensified its inquiry. Officials have instructed BRS working president K T Rama Rao to hand over his mobile phones and laptops to the agency by Wednesday. The BRS working president had previously undergone questioning by ACB officials just a day before, during which he was grilled for over seven hours. The interrogation primarily focused on payments made to the private company without the government's explicit consent. Now, on Tuesday, officials have formally requested the BRS leader's mobile phones and laptops. K T Rama Rao, who had publicly stated his willingness to attend the inquiry even if summoned a hundred times, informed officials that he would make a decision regarding the handover of his devices only after consulting legal experts. Meanwhile, the BRS party's social media convener, Y Satish Reddy, expressed surprise at the ACB's request for KTR's phones as part of the Formula E investigation. He suggested that this action appears to be taken under directives from Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. Reddy asserted that it is clear ACB officials requested KTR's phone because Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was overseeing the situation from the command control room and issued the order. However, he questioned why KTR should hand over his personal phones, arguing that the Formula E Race case was not a personal matter but a government transaction. He emphasised that the Formula E Race was organised with government permission and as per a cabinet decision. Satish Reddy further stated that the money paid to the Formula E Race Company was transferred from the government treasury through official bank channels. All matters related to the organisation of the race, he added, were conducted legally in accordance with government decisions and agreements. He then questioned why the agencies would need KTR's personal phone. According to Article 21 and the IT Act 2000, he claimed, there was no legal basis to request a personal phone number without a criminal case or a specific court order. By this action, he argued, the Revanth Reddy government was effectively admitting that the Formula E case was merely politically motivated and intended to politically harass KTR. He pointed out that all transaction documents were held by the government, and the Formula E Race had been a success, attracting investments and benefiting the state.
