A special Anti-Corruption Bureau court has summoned BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao, senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar and B.L.N. Reddy in connection with the Formula-E race case, directing them to appear for hearing on July 31 after taking cognisance of the chargesheet filed by the bureau.

The case pertains to alleged financial and procedural irregularities in the conduct of the Formula-E electric car race held in Hyderabad in February 2023 during the tenure of the BRS government.

According to the ACB’s chargesheet, Mr. Rama Rao has been named as Accused No. 1, Arvind Kumar as Accused No. 2 and B.L.N. Reddy as Accused No. 3. Sports consultant Kiran Malleswar Rao has been listed as Accused No. 4, while Formula-E Operations has been named as Accused No. 5.

The allegations relate to the transfer of funds and approvals connected to the hosting of the international racing event, with investigators examining whether due procedures were bypassed and whether public funds were released without mandatory clearances.

The ACB had launched its probe following complaints over the release of funds to Formula-E Operations for conducting the race, particularly focusing on decisions taken after the model code of conduct came into effect ahead of Assembly elections.

The agency subsequently filed a chargesheet before the special court after completing its investigation. With the court now taking cognisance of the chargesheet, the accused have been directed to appear before it on July 31 for further proceedings.