Rama Rao seeks more time, calls probe political harassment
Hyderabad: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday served notice to BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao to appear before the agency for questioning on May 28 in connection with the Formula E Racing irregularities case. Rama Rao is one of the accused in the case, along with senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar and HMDA former employee B.L.N. Reddy.
The ACB had questioned all three in January as also officials of the UK-based Formula E Racing Operations Limited. Following the documents collected during the investigation, the ACB served notices to Rama Rao on Monday.
Rama Rao in his response to the notice, which he posted on his X handle, and sought time to appear before the agency. He said he was scheduled to go abroad and would appear before the officials upon his return.
“As a law-abiding citizen, I will definitely cooperate with the agencies even though the case is nothing but pure political harassment,” he claimed. He said he had planned to leave for the UK and USA for multiple events much in advance
“Informed the same to ACB officials in writing,: Rama Rao posted, and turned his ire on Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, saying; “But I should appreciate Revanth Reddy for his thirst for political vendetta and the way he swings in any direction without any scruples, to achieve the same."
Rama Rao alleged that reports of Revanth Reddy’s name figuring in the Enforcement Directorate chargesheet in the National Herald case had emerged 48 hours ago. “24 hours later Revanth Reddy is seen schmoozing with BJP top brass including PM Narendra Modi! Not a word against Revanth Reddy from even a single BJP leader for his involvement in the money laundering case,” Rama Rao said.
The ACB had booked Rama Rao, Arvind Kumar and B.L.N. Reddy over alleged payments, most of them in foreign currency without securing due approvals from the government, for conducting the Formula E race in Hyderabad during the tenure of the BRS government. It was also alleged that the decisions were taken when the model code of conduct for the elections were in place.
