Phone tapping probe: Ex-SIB chief Prabhakar Rao keeps mum on naming top officials, Hyderabad cops may seek SC nod for custodial grilling
T Prabhakar Rao, key accused in the phone tapping case, is not cooperating with the investigation. He is refusing to name involved officials and political leaders. Hyderabad police might seek revocation of his arrest protection.
HYDERABAD: Former chief of Special Intelligence Bureau, T Prabhakar Rao, the prime accused in the sensational phone tapping case, has so far stonewalled investigators by refusing to name senior IPS officers or political leaders allegedly involved during the previous BRS regime.
Though he hinted that certain actions were carried out in coordination with top officials, Prabhakar Rao has remained tight-lipped on specifics, prompting Hyderabad police to consider seeking revocation of his Supreme Court-granted arrest protection.
With Prabhakar Rao allegedly not providing leads crucial to cracking the case, police plan to continue questioning him for a few more days. A final decision will soon be taken on approaching the apex court, which had earlier given him interim relief from arrest.
Officials are likely to inform the court of his non-cooperation and request permission to proceed with custodial interrogation.
So far, he has been interrogated three times. Other than referring to a letter from the then director general of police recommending his reappointment post-retirement-citing his experience in anti-Maoist operations-he has remained evasive, particularly when asked about the core allegations of surveillance.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Поза во сне может многое рассказать о вашем характере!
Удивительные Новости
Undo
He has refused to name the senior officers or political leadership allegedly involved in the phone tapping.
Investigators suspect that Prabhakar Rao was instrumental in setting up the now-disbanded special operations team (SOT), headed by then deputy superintendent of police D Praneeth Rao. The unit is believed to have tapped the phones of political opponents, including current chief minister A Revanth Reddy, senior BJP leaders, and dissidents within the BRS to help the ruling party during elections.
Meanwhile, after taking the witness statements of different phone tapping victims including Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Mahesh Kumar Goud, the investigators are going to take the statements of BJP MPs Eatala Rajender and M Raghunandan Rao, Haryana governor Bandaru Dattatreya, minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Congress leader Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy are among those expected to be questioned.
CM Revanth and his family members, whose phones were reportedly under surveillance, may also be asked to depose.
"Based on the phone numbers identified, police will reach out to those affected and collect detailed accounts of any harassment or damage-financial, legal, or personal-suffered due to the surveillance," sources familiar with the investigation told TOI. "Their statements will help build a watertight case," a source said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
32 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Pawan Kalyan reaches Madurai to attend Murugan Devotees' conference as chief guest
Deputy Chief Minister and JSP chief K. Pawan Kalyan arrived in Madurai on Sunday (June 22) to participate in the Muruga Bhaktargal Maanaadu (Conference of Murugan Devotees), marking a significant cultural and political moment in the southern region. Mr. Pawan Kalyan received a grand welcome at the Madurai airport from senior BJP Tamil Nadu leaders, including State president Nainar Nagendran, party observer Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy and other prominent functionaries. His visit underscores growing collaboration between BJP and JSP, especially as both parties work to strengthen their base across southern India. Mr. Pawan Kalyan will offer prayers at the historic Tirupparankundram Subramanya Swamy Temple, one of the six sacred abodes (Arupadai Veedu) of Lord Murugan. Following the darshan, he will take part in the Murugan devotees' conference as the chief guest, addressing spiritual leaders, devotees and attendees from across Tamil Nadu and beyond. Among those who welcomed Pawan Kalyan were BJP State vice-president Chakravarthy, State leader Amar Prasad Reddy, BJP Madurai district president Mari Chakravarthy, State general secretary Ram Srinivasan and veteran leader Radhakrishnan, according to a press release. The event holds political significance, with Mr. Pawan Kalyan's participation seen as a gesture of cultural outreach and solidarity with Tamil spiritual traditions. Political analysts view the visit as part of a broader strategy to enhance the BJP-JSP alliance's presence in Tamil Nadu, where cultural reverence and political messaging often go hand in hand.
The Hindu
32 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Congress govt. shielding KCR family on KLIP row: Bandi Sanjay Kumar
Alleging massive corruption in Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) under the previous BRS government led by KCR, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar hit back at the ruling Congress dispensation accusing it of being a shield for KCR family. 'Some people are spreading false propaganda that the BJP has changed its stance on Kaleshwaram and colluded with BRS. Our party's stand on the Kaleshwaram project is very clear, and our demand is for a CBI inquiry into the Kaleshwaram project,' Mr. Sanjay told the media in Karimnagar on Sunday. 'Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself said that the Kaleshwaram Project became an ATM for KCR's family. That is BJP's stand too. If any party leader speaks against the BJP's stand, it's wrong. The high command will deal with them,' he said in reply to a query. Has Congress leader Rahul Gandhi forgotten his earlier demand for a CBI probe into the Kaleshwaram fiasco during the last Assembly elections? he asked. 'We don't trust the Congress government's current investigation into Kaleshwaram project. Our main demand remains a CBI inquiry,' he added. Citing the copies of the Central Water Commission (CWC) report, he said the CWC reported that Tummidihatti has water availability of 165 tmc ft based on the scientific assessment of the data from the past 33 years (1986 to 2013). 'But those at the highest echelons of power in the previous BRS government altered the design and looted public money by inflating the ₹38,000 crore project to ₹1.2 lakh crore,' he charged. 'The project failed to bring any tangible results.' If BRS claims that the Kaleshwaram project was built with Cabinet approval and sub-committee recommendations, why aren't they making those documents public? Mr. Sanjay asked. Taking a dig at KCR, he said that Mr. Rao, who called himself a top engineer, alone made all decisions including on Kaleshwaram during his tenure as Chief Minister. Stating that the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) is a statutory body, the Union Minister said the BJP's view is that any future action on the Kaleshwaram project must be guided by the expert committee report.
New Indian Express
35 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Citing left-wing extremism, US issues advisory cautioning against travel in parts of Odisha
BHUBANESWAR: The US has flagged parts of Odisha in its travel advisory, urging its citizens to exercise increased caution while travelling. Citing concerns over terrorism, crime and civil unrest, the US Department of State has issued a Level-2 alert for India, warning of sporadic incidents linked to left-wing extremism in parts of the country. The presence of Maoist activities in Odisha has awarded the state a place among 14 Indian states where travellers' safety may be compromised included in the advisory. The June 18 advisory warned its citizens against travel to south-western Odisha, which it lists among regions impacted by Maoist violence. It specifically lists attacks targeting security forces and government officials in rural areas, including those bordering Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. 'Attacks against officers of the Indian government continue to occur sporadically in the rural parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand that share a border with Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha. Southwest areas of Odisha are also affected,' the advisory stated. While the state capital, Bhubaneswar, and major urban areas have been cited as unaffected by these restrictions, the US government has asked its employees to obtain special authorisation before travelling to regions beyond the capital.
