Hyderabad: In a key development in the Formula E irregularities case, Telangana police have indicated that sanction to prosecute senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar has been cleared by the Centre, paving the way for the filing of a chargesheet.Almost three-and-a-half months after seeking permission from the department of personnel and training (DoPT), the top brass of Telangana police on Saturday said they received information that prosecution sanction had been granted and that official communication is expected next week.Sources in the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) told TOI that an oral communication had been received, but no written order has reached them yet. Officials expect to receive it on Monday or Tuesday.Arvind Kumar, former special chief secretary (municipal administration and urban development), is one of the three accused being probed by the ACB for allegedly transferring Rs55 crore to UK-based Formula E Operations (FEO) in violation of laid down procedures to organise the second edition of the race.As an All-India Services (AIS) officer, prosecution sanction from the DoPT is mandatory before the ACB can file a chargesheet against him.Investigators have already obtained prosecution sanction against the prime accused, KT Rama Rao, former MA&UD minister, from the governor in Nov 2025. Similarly, sanction to prosecute former Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority chief engineer BLN Reddy was granted by the chief secretary. Once the ACB receives the written order from the DoPT, it is expected to proceed with filing the chargesheet, sources said.The case was registered in Dec 2024 based on a complaint by then principal secretary (MA&UD) M Dana Kishore. The complaint alleged that Rs 55 crore was transferred in 2023 to FEO in violation of procedures to enable the state govt to sponsor the second edition of the Formula E race.After the first edition of the Formula E race in the city, the Hyderabad-based Ace Nxt Gen, which had sponsored the event, reportedly backed out of sponsoring the second edition. It is alleged that the then MA&UD minister KTR instructed Arvind Kumar to move a file to enable the state govt to take up sponsorship of the event.ACB had already questioned KTR twice last year, while Reddy was quizzed in Jan 2025. Arvind Kumar was quizzed by ACB for more than six hours in July last year for his alleged involvement in the transfer of funds to FEO.
