The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) faces a significant delay in formally filing its chargesheet in the high-profile Formula E financial case. The hold-up stems from the central government's Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), which has not yet decided on granting mandatory prosecution sanction against senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar.
Investigation Complete, But Sanction Awaited
According to officials familiar with the matter, the ACB's investigation into the alleged irregularities is largely complete. The chargesheet itself is reportedly ready for submission. However, the legal action cannot proceed against Arvind Kumar without the crucial sanction from the DoPT, a central government body that oversees bureaucratic appointments and disciplinary matters.
Arvind Kumar is one of three key accused in the case. In a contrast, the ACB has already secured the necessary prosecution permissions against the other two individuals named in the First Information Report (FIR). These are former minister and BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) and former Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority chief engineer BLN Reddy.
Central Government's Decision Pending
Sources indicate that the Anti-Corruption Bureau sought the DoPT's permission over two-and-a-half months ago, but the file remains pending with the central department. The bureau is still awaiting an official response to move forward.
In a related development, the DoPT was informed that Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Verma granted sanction to prosecute KTR in the third week of November 2024. This approval for the former minister was secured while the proposal concerning the IAS officer, Arvind Kumar, continued to be pursued by authorities.
The Core Allegations in the Formula E Case
The case revolves around the organization of the second edition of the Formula E event in Hyderabad in 2024. An FIR registered in December 2024 alleges that the three accused authorized a payment of Rs 55 crore, including taxes, from the state exchequer to the UK-based Formula E Operations (FEO).
The payment was allegedly made by bypassing prescribed government procedures. The state government stepped in as the sponsor for the event after the original sponsor, Hyderabad-based Ace Nxt Gen, which had backed the first edition, withdrew its support for the second race.
The delay in the DoPT's decision now puts the final legal proceedings on hold, leaving the ACB's prepared chargesheet in a state of limbo until the central government clarifies its stance on prosecuting the senior bureaucrat involved.
