Hyderabad: 19 december (Patriotic Views) Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President and former Minister K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) has issued a strong rebuttal to the corruption allegations leveled against him in connection with the Formula E racing event, accusing the Congress-led state government of filing politically motivated and baseless cases. KTR stated that these allegations are part of an attempt to divert public attention from the government’s own failures.

“We are not just leaders, but sons of a movement,” KTR declared, adding that such fabricated accusations would not intimidate him or stop his fight against corruption and inefficiency. He emphasized his confidence in proving his innocence through legal means.

KTR provided a detailed explanation of the financial transactions related to the Formula E event, refuting the corruption claims. He explained that the Telangana government, through the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), spent ₹30 crore, while private sponsor Ace Urban contributed ₹110 crore. According to an independent study by Nielsen, the event had a significant economic impact, generating ₹700 crore for Hyderabad.

The former minister clarified that the subsequent cancellation of the races was due to the private sponsor’s financial constraints and the Congress government’s failure to honor contractual obligations. KTR assured that the HMDA followed legal protocols, and all funds were transferred through government bank channels.

KTR also highlighted the positive impact of the event, which brought global recognition to Hyderabad and attracted significant investments in the electric vehicle sector. However, he criticized the Congress government for mishandling the situation, which led to reputational damage for both Hyderabad and Telangana on the international stage.

Accusations Against the Congress Government:

KTR accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and his administration of using these allegations to distract the public from their own unfulfilled promises. He challenged the government to present any concrete evidence of corruption during the ongoing Assembly session, claiming they lacked the necessary proof.

KTR announced that the BRS legal cell would take all necessary steps to expose the political vendetta behind the Congress government’s actions. He also pointed to arbitration proceedings initiated by international Formula E organizers due to dissatisfaction with the government’s decisions, which further embarrassed Telangana.

Drawing a comparison with a similar case in Montreal, Canada, where the local government canceled Formula E races and was successfully sued for damages, KTR warned of the potential legal and financial consequences the Congress government could face due to their actions.

“These baseless allegations and diversion tactics will not succeed,” KTR concluded. “The Congress must focus on fulfilling its promises to the people of Telangana instead of targeting the opposition with unfounded accusations. The people of Telangana deserve better governance.”

KTR expressed confidence that the truth would prevail and urged citizens to recognize the Congress government’s attempts to mislead them.