Hyderabad: The Telangana government on Friday placed senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar (1991 batch) under suspension after the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) granted sanction to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to prosecute him in the high-profile Formula E case.
This marks a rare instance in Telangana where an officer of special chief secretary rank has been suspended in a criminal case while being named accused.
Arvind Kumar Suspended Amid Criminal Investigation
Arvind Kumar, who was serving as special chief secretary, revenue (disaster management), was not assigned any new posting following his transfer. With around eight months of service left before his retirement in October 2026, this suspension comes at a sensitive juncture in state administration.
The case pertains to allegations that, during his tenure as special chief secretary, municipal administration and urban development (MA&UD), Arvind Kumar transferred Rs 55 crore to UK-based Formula E Operations (FEO) in violation of established procedures while organising the second edition of the Formula E race in Hyderabad.
The ACB registered the case in December 2024, following a complaint by then principal secretary (MA&UD) M Dana Kishore, and the investigation is currently ongoing.
Political Sensitivity and Administrative Implications
The suspension occurs amid a politically sensitive backdrop, with the Congress government repeatedly accusing the previous BRS regime of financial irregularities in major urban projects. The Formula E event, originally promoted as a global branding initiative for Hyderabad, has now become the focus of a criminal investigation.
Following the administrative reshuffle, the government instructed Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao to temporarily manage the industries, IT, and electronics department until a new officer is appointed.
Sridhar Not Allowed to Assume Industries Charge
In a related development, Principal Secretary N Sridhar was posted as principal secretary of industries, replacing special chief secretary Sanjay Kumar, who was transferred to panchayat raj and rural development.
However, Sridhar was reportedly asked not to assume charge, allegedly due to objections from a state minister. Sources indicate that the minister had prior differences with Sridhar during his tenure as chairman and managing director of Singareni Collieries Company Limited.
The Telangana government is now understood to be searching for a new head for the critical industries and IT portfolio, highlighting ongoing administrative realignments following Arvind Kumar’s suspension.
Significance of the Suspension
The suspension of Arvind Kumar underscores the Telangana government’s focus on accountability in high-value urban projects. It also highlights the political and administrative sensitivity of major events like Formula E, which involve large financial transactions and international collaboration.
With the investigation ongoing, the case is expected to set a precedent for handling senior bureaucrats facing criminal prosecution while in office.
