BRS Official Seeks Telangana High Court's Intervention to Dismiss Phone Surveillance Allegations

Hyderabad, Dec 4 (NationPress) A prominent leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and ex-minister, T. Harish Rao, has turned to the Telangana High Court, requesting the court to dismiss the phone tapping allegations filed against him.

The BRS legislator from Siddipet submitted a petition on Wednesday, following the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against him at the Panjagutta Police Station in Hyderabad.

The case was initiated based on a complaint by G. Chakradhar Goud, a real estate entrepreneur and Congress member from Siddipet, leading to charges against Harish Rao and retired police officer Radhakishan Rao.

Goud, who also heads the Farmers First Foundation, accused Harish Rao of harassment, intimidation, and unauthorized phone monitoring.

The Panjgutta Police initiated proceedings under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including section 120(B) (Criminal conspiracy), 386 (Extortion), 409 (Criminal breach of trust), 506 (Criminal intimidation), as well as section 66 of the Information Technology Act.

According to Goud, during the previous year’s Assembly elections, Harish Rao, assisted by Praneeth Rao (an accused in the phone tapping case), allegedly intercepted his phone calls and those of 20 family members. Goud claimed no action was taken despite his complaints to the police.

In his complaint, Goud noted that Harish Rao harbored animosity towards him due to his philanthropic efforts, including financial aid to families of farmers who had taken their own lives. The complainant accused Harish Rao and his associates of issuing threats, fabricating cases, and conducting unauthorized phone surveillance.

Harish Rao, a prominent figure in the BRS, is the nephew of the party's president and former chief minister, K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

Goud alleged that he was falsely implicated in multiple cases, including a rape allegation, and received threatening messages urging him to cease his charitable and political endeavors.

In response, Harish Rao rejected the claims and accused Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of orchestrating the false allegations.

The former minister asserted that he was being wrongfully targeted as the Chief Minister could not tolerate his criticisms regarding injustices and mismanagement.

Harish Rao mentioned that even if the Chief Minister were to file numerous false charges against him, he would persist in holding him accountable for his wrongdoing.

He also referenced various cases filed against him across the state, including one at the Yadagirigutta Police Station for his remarks that the Chief Minister had betrayed even divine principles regarding crop loan waivers.

Another case against him was lodged at the Begum Bazar Police Station concerning his comments on the Chief Minister's unfulfilled promises.