Hyderabad: BRS working president and former MAUD minister KT Rama Rao, along with three other accused involved in the diversion of ₹55 crore to the Formula E Organisation (FEO), allegedly in violation of rules, appeared before the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court in Nampally on Friday in response to summons.The court posted the matter for the next hearing on August 25.Former special chief secretary Arvind Kumar, former HMDA chief engineer BLN Reddy, and Ace Nxt Gen director Kiran Rao also appeared before the court. However, Formula E Operations (FEO) representative Alberto Longo did not appear.According to Jukkala Laxman, counsel for KTR, ACB officials informed the court that the process of serving summons on Longo is still underway as he is in the UK. “As the notice has not yet been served, the court granted additional time and adjourned the matter to Aug 25. Once all the accused appear before the court, the next procedural step is expected to be initiated,” Jukkala Laxman told TOI.During the hearing, the court formally furnished copies of the ACB chargesheet to the accused.The ACB has alleged that during the previous BRS govt’s tenure, KTR directed then special chief secretary Arvind Kumar to process a proposal for the state govt to sponsor the second edition of the Formula E race by paying ₹55 crore, including taxes, to FEO. The payment was allegedly made in violation of established rules after Ace Nxt Gen withdrew as the sponsor following its association with the inaugural edition of the race.
