Telangana High Court Delays Hearing on Ex-SIB Chief's Bail Request in Phone-Tapping Case
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Synopsis
The Telangana High Court has postponed the hearing of T. Prabhakar Rao's anticipatory bail plea, the key figure in the phone-tapping case related to the BRS government. Rao, currently in the US, claims political motives behind the allegations and insists on his cooperation with the investigation.
Key Takeaways
- T. Prabhakar Rao is the main suspect in a phone-tapping scandal.
- The bail hearing has been postponed by two weeks.
- Rao asserts that the case is politically motivated.
- He claims to have communicated with the investigating officer.
- Six individuals have been named as accused so far.
Hyderabad, March 24 (NationPress) The Telangana High Court has postponed the hearing on the anticipatory bail request of former Inspector General of Police T. Prabhakar Rao, who is the main suspect in the phone-tapping scandal.
The High Court addressed the petition from Prabhakar Rao, who led the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) during the tenure of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government.
The former IPS officer, currently residing in the United States for over a year and labeled as an absconder by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the matter, sought anticipatory bail through his attorney.
The court requested the state government to submit a counter. With the government counsel asking for additional time, the court rescheduled the hearing for two weeks later.
In his petition, Prabhakar Rao asserted that the phone-tapping case was initiated with a political agenda. He contended that the allegations in the complaint, FIR, and charge sheet were fabricated to politically compromise him.
The former IPS officer accused the SIT of concocting a narrative of supposed phone interceptions and destruction of recordings without any substantial evidence, aiming to appease the ruling political elite.
Denying the accusation of absconding, Rao stated that he traveled to the US on March 11, 2024, while the SIT named him as an accused on April 29, 50 days post his departure.
Upon learning about the case, Prabhakar Rao claimed he submitted a memo on May 2 via his counsel, clarifying the reasons for his travel to the US, which was for medical reasons and occurred prior to the registration of the case.
He also mentioned that he had been in touch with the investigating officer, providing his contact details and indicating his willingness to assist with the investigation. He asserted that he was not avoiding inquiry, as he had maintained regular communication with the investigating officer and that no police personnel had approached him for questioning.
The phone-tapping allegations linked to the previous BRS government emerged in March of last year, following the arrest of Deputy Superintendent of Police Praneeth Rao after a complaint from his superior, Additional SP D. Ramesh, involving the SIB.
So far, the police have identified six individuals as accused in the case. Those arrested include Praneeth Rao, Additional SPs Thirupathanna and Bhujanga Rao, as well as former DCP P. Radha Kishan Rao.
Prabhakar Rao, then head of the SIB, allegedly formed a team within the bureau with his trusted associates, including Praneeth Rao, to surveil rival political figures, their families, dissidents from the ruling party, businessmen, journalists, and even judges.
Last August, the Telangana Police began the process to extradite Prabhakar Rao and another accused, Sravan Kumar, from the US. Their request for Red Corner notices remains pending with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
