Formula-E issue: Arvind Kumar appears before ACB; ED questions BLN Reddy

ACB reportedly records former Special Chief Secretary's statement in connection with agreement entered into by MAUD for conducting race while Model Code of Conduct was in force

Hyderabad: Former Special Chief Secretary (Municipal Administration and Urban Development) and senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar on Wednesday appeared before the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) at its office in Banjara Hills.

This was after he was summoned for questioning in connection with alleged financial irregularities during the Formula-E race held in Hyderabad in February 2023.

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The ACB is learned to have recorded his statement in connection with the agreement entered into by the MAUD for conducting the Formula-E race while the Model Code of Conduct was in force.

The ACB had registered a First Information Report (FIR) against BRS working president KT Rama Rao, Arvind Kumar and former Chief Engineer of HMDA BLN Reddy for alleged irregularities in the payment by the HMDA to the FEO and associated entities without adhering to established financial procedures.

The FIR was registered under Sections 13 (1) (A) and 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, along with Sections 409 and 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code.

Arvind Kumar is slated to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday.

Meanwhile, BLN Reddy appeared before the ED on Wednesday in connection with the case registered by the agency on the same race.

The ED is conducting the probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on the FIR filed by the ACB. The Central agency is looking into possible violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

The two were earlier summoned by the ED on January 2 and 3. Following their request asking for more time, the ED had issued fresh notices to them, asking to appear on January 8 and 9.