Telangana Begins Efforts to Extradite Phone Tapping Suspects from the US
Click to start listening
Hyderabad, Dec 29 (NationPress) Telangana Police have commenced the effort to bring back two individuals, which includes the former head of the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) T. Prabhakar Rao, from the United States in relation to the phone-tapping case.
The Director General of Police Jitender mentioned that their request for Red Corner Notices (RCNs) is currently with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
"We have initiated the process. It is already with the CBI. Let us hope because the international process takes some time. I have worked in CBI. I know about it. In many cases, it takes years," the police chief stated while responding to a question during a year-end press briefing.
"The international process is not that straightforward because there are numerous guidelines and practices," he added.
The DGP explained that Interpol, which issues Red Corner Notices, has multiple standard operating procedures.
In August, the state police contacted the CBI to request an RCN against Prabhakar Rao and Sravan Kumar, managing director of a private news channel.
The allegations of phone tapping under the previous BRS government came to light in March of this year following the arrest of Deputy Superintendent of Police Praneeth Rao, triggered by a complaint from his superior, D. Ramesh, Additional SP with the SIB.
Then chief of SIB, Prabhakar Rao was alleged to have formed a team within the bureau featuring his trusted aides including Praneeth Rao, tasked with monitoring rival political figures, their families, dissenters within the ruling party, businessmen, journalists, and even judges.
So far, the police have identified six suspects in the case. Praneeth Rao, Additional SPs Thirupathanna and Bhujanga Rao, along with former DCP P. Radha Kishan Rao, have been arrested in connection with this investigation.
Last month, police interrogated former MLAs Jaipal Yadav and Chirumarthi Lingaiah regarding the phone tapping incident.
Recently, the Telangana High Court reserved its decision on a bail application submitted by Bhujanga Rao and also extended his interim bail until December 30. The public prosecutor had urged the court to reject the petition, arguing that his health issues were not as severe as he claimed, a factor that has allowed him to remain out of prison for the past four and a half months.
The High Court also granted interim bail to retired police officer Radhakishan Rao for four days to observe the death anniversary rituals of his father-in-law.
