Hyderabad, Jan 23 (NationPress) The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the phone-tapping scandal interrogated Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president and former Telangana minister K. T. Rama Rao for more than seven hours on Friday.

After his questioning at the Jubilee Hills Police Station, Rama Rao returned to the BRS headquarters, Telangana Bhavan.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar, who oversees the SIT, stated that Rama Rao was thoroughly examined.

“We gathered relevant information about the case, which is now being analyzed alongside existing evidence. He has been advised against contacting or influencing any witnesses, and he may be called again if necessary,” Sajjanar stated.

He emphasized that Friday’s inquiry was strictly related to a case filed in 2024 regarding allegations of extensive unauthorized phone surveillance affecting thousands, including politicians, business leaders, journalists, and notable figures.

“Misleading claims are circulating in the media, suggesting that the phone interceptions were conducted for security reasons, with no illegality involved. This investigation is being conducted within legal boundaries, professionally and fairly,” the Police Commissioner added.

Upon returning to Telangana Bhavan, Rama Rao addressed BRS leaders and described the entire inquiry as a “calculated diversionary tactic.”

KTR accused the Congress-led government of leveraging investigative bodies to create “entertainment” for the public, distracting them from the state’s growing administrative issues and unfulfilled electoral commitments.

The BRS leader claimed he fully cooperated with the investigation, responding to all inquiries during the seven-and-a-half-hour session. However, he criticized the nature of the questioning, which he described as repetitive, with officials merely reading out numerous names without presenting substantial evidence.

KTR asserted that despite the extensive questioning, the SIT did not address the ongoing “leaks” to the media that have tarnished the reputation of BRS leaders and their families over the past two years.

He challenged the investigative bodies to confront the reality of surveillance under the current administration, noting that the culture of phone tapping has not only persisted but has also infiltrated the government itself, citing instances where a sitting minister informed journalists of being unable to speak freely due to surveillance.

The BRS leader questioned the government’s silence on these accusations while employing the SIT to spread “fictional narratives” aimed at disparaging the opposition.