Latest news with #K.T.RamaRao
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
India is the future; Telangana will continue to tell its story: KTR at Oxford University
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) articulated how India's youngest State, Telangana, has emerged as a beacon of inclusive development, resilience, and economic transformation. 'India is the future, and Telangana will continue to tell its story,' he said, delivering a talk organised by the Oxford India Forum at Oxford University, on the theme 'Governing Innovation – A Telangana Case Study.' KTR highlighted how the State's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has grown from ₹4 lakh crore to ₹15 lakh crore, and its per capita income has surged from ₹1.12 lakh to ₹3.57 lakh. He also spoke of the immense strides Telangana made in attracting global investments. Hyderabad, the State capital, is now home to the world's largest campuses of Amazon and other top global tech companies. The State also houses the world's largest innovation campus, T-Hub, which fosters thousands of startups. Telangana is also a global pharmaceutical hub, producing one-third of the world's vaccines, he explained. Responding to a question on replicating Telangana's success in other Indian states, KTR argued for a strong institutional framework that encouraged cooperative federalism. He stressed the need for a 'big brother' role the Union Government has to play in helping States complement each other's strengths rather than compete destructively. The former Minister also addressed the contentious issue of redistricting and regional disparities in India. He argued that basing the redrawing of Lok Sabha boundaries solely on population would unfairly penalise southern states like Telangana that have effectively implemented population control measures. Instead, he advocated for a GDP-based formula to reward high-performing States and ensure equitable representation in Parliament.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Formula E race case: KTR declines to submit mobile phone to ACB
HYDERABAD BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao has declined to submit his mobile phone to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) that is probing the Formula E race case citing privacy issues. Interestingly, the former MA&UD minister claimed that he had replaced his old mobile phone in the first quarter of 2024 with a new one and not used any other electronic devices during the relevant period pertaining to the Formula E race case. In his written reply to the ACB, KTR stated that such a direction violates fundamental rights and personal privacy guaranteed under the Constitution. Questioning the ACB's direction, he said that he had personally appeared before the ACB on June 16 and responded to all queries. Stating that ACB had served him a notice to submit the mobile phone used between November 1, 2021, and December 1, 2023, along with other electronic devices used by him, KTR pointed out that the notice did not specify the reason or purpose for seeking these devices. KTR emphasised that all official records relevant to the Formula E case were already available with the State Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) department, and all decisions related to the case were made in his official capacity as Minister of that department. He added that if any electronic devices were to be examined, strict protocols laid down by the Supreme Court must be followed to avoid any tampering or misuse of data. He highlighted the importance of the right to privacy citing a relevant case in which the Supreme Court granted interim relief to a petitioner and instructed the Enforcement Directorate not to access or copy the contents of the petitioner's mobile phone.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
KTR appears before ACB in Formula-E Race case
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao appeared before Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Hyderabad on Monday (June 16, 2025) morning in connection with the alleged financial irregularities in the Formula-E race deal. An FIR was registered against Mr. Rama Rao, former IT and Industries Minister on December 19, 2024, in relation to suspected irregularities in the planning and execution of the Formula-E event held in February 2023. The ACB is probing a payment of ₹54 crore, which included ₹8 crore in taxes, made to the event organisers. Allegations suggest the transaction was executed without Cabinet approval. KTR appeared before the ACB on January 9. Later, he was asked to present himself on May 28, following notices served on May 26. However, the appearance was deferred owing to his overseas travel plans. The former Minister alleged that the Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is mulling to get him arrested in the case. KTR said that the cases would not stop him from questioning on behalf of people.
The Hindu
14-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Has KTS lost belief in the judicial system and believes in lie-detector tests: Congress
Hyderabad In a sharp rebuttal to BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao's criticism of the Congress government, Bhongir MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy asked if KTR stopped believing in the Constitution and courts, and started depending on medical and lie-detector tests to prove one's sincerity. If that is the case, why did Mr. Rama Rao refuse to undergo a drug test when challenged by then TPCC president and present Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, during earlier drug-related allegations? 'Why did KTR back off then, if he had nothing to hide?' he asked. He was responding to KTR's challenge to the CM for a lie-detector test to prove sincerity. On the alleged vendetta politics, Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy emphasised that the law enforcing agencies were acting lawfully, not politically. 'Congress doesn't practice vendetta politics, which was BRS's political tool during its regime,' he said at a press conference here on Saturday. Referring to the Formula-E race controversy, the MP said, 'KTR should clarify how ₹44 crore was moved to a foreign account without administrative sanction. If the ACB is asking questions, how is that a vendetta? he asked. Taking a swipe at KTR's emotional outbursts and poetic expressions, he said, 'KTR may be fluent in English, but the subject is nil.'
Hans India
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
ACB Summons KTR for Formula E Race Inquiry
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has issued a notice to K. T. Rama Rao (KTR), the Working President of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and former Minister, requiring him to attend questioning on Monday, the 16th of this month at 10 am, in relation to the Formula E Race case. Previously, the ACB had summoned KTR on May 26, asking him to appear for questioning on May 28. However, he was unable to attend due to a tour in America. KTR informed the ACB of his foreign commitments and indicated his willingness to cooperate once he returned. The ACB subsequently agreed to reschedule and has now issued another notice for his appearance. It is important to note that KTR has previously attended questioning sessions with both the ACB and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) concerning the same case. On January 6, he arrived at the ACB for an inquiry with his legal team but departed when officials did not permit him to enter. He returned to the ACB for questioning on January 8, where he was interrogated for approximately seven hours. Although he was called again on January 9, KTR requested additional time to respond to the inquiry. In addition, the ACB has questioned Arvind Kumar, Secretary of the Municipal Department, and BLN Reddy, the former Chief Engineer of HMDA, as part of its investigation. The inquiry stems from allegations of the misuse of ₹55 crores related to the Formula E race, which was held in Hyderabad during the BRS administration.
