Centre Approves Prosecution in Formula E Car Race Case

• Formula E case sees key legal clearance.
• Centre permits prosecution of officials.
• ACB prepares to file chargesheet.

The Formula E car race case has reached a critical stage with the Central government granting permission to prosecute senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar. The decision has been formally communicated to the state clearing a major procedural hurdle in the ongoing investigation.

The Anti Corruption Bureau has been probing alleged financial and procedural violations linked to the high profile racing event. With prosecution approvals now in place against both political leadership and senior officials, investigators are preparing to move ahead with the filing of a chargesheet.

According to the ACB findings large payments were made from the HMDA account despite the agency not being a formal partner in the Formula E event. An amount of 54.88 crore rupees was reportedly released without mandatory financial clearances raising serious questions over administrative compliance.

Investigators have also alleged that funds were sanctioned to foreign companies during the enforcement of the election code in violation of established norms. The ACB report points to pressure from senior leadership to facilitate these transactions without following due process.

The financial irregularities reportedly resulted in HMDA facing penalties of over 8 crore rupees from the income tax department. Probing agencies have further concluded that agreements related to the Formula E race involved commitments of nearly 600 crore rupees over a three year period.

With the Centre granting prosecution approval the case is expected to enter a decisive phase. Legal experts say the move strengthens the investigation and could lead to swift action as accountability tightens around the controversial Formula E project.