Telangana High Court Approves Bail for Two Former Police Officials in Phone Tapping Scandal
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Synopsis
The Telangana High Court has granted bail to former police officers Bhujanga Rao and P. Radha Kishan Rao in a phone tapping case, requiring them to provide sureties and surrender their passports while cooperating with the investigation, following a similar decision for another officer.
Key Takeaways
- Telangana HC grants bail to two ex-police officers.
- Conditions include sureties and passport surrender.
- Supreme Court granted similar bail to another officer.
- Phone tapping allegations emerged in March last year.
- Investigation includes multiple former officials and current efforts to extradite suspects.
Hyderabad, Jan 30 (NationPress) The Telangana High Court has granted bail to ex-Additional Superintendent of Police Bhujanga Rao and former Deputy Commissioner of Police P. Radha Kishan Rao concerning the phone tapping investigation.
The court stipulated that they must provide two sureties of Rs one lakh each and turn in their passports. Additionally, the former officers are required to assist with the ongoing investigation.
This decision follows the Supreme Court's approval of bail for former Additional SP M. Thirupathanna just three days prior in the same matter.
The Supreme Court granted this bail request while underlining that the trial court retains the authority to impose strict bail conditions.
In October 2024, the Telangana High Court had denied Thirupathanna’s bail application.
Allegations of phone tapping emerged under the previous BRS government in March of last year, triggered by the arrest of Deputy Superintendent of Police Praneeth Rao following a complaint from his supervisor, D. Ramesh, Additional SP at the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB).
It was alleged that the then-chief of SIB, T. Prabhakar Rao, formed a team with his trusted personnel, including Praneeth Rao, to surveil political opponents, their families, dissenters within the ruling party, business figures, journalists, and even judicial authorities.
The police have identified six individuals as suspects in this matter. Arrested were Praneeth Rao, Additional SPs Thirupathanna and Bhujanga Rao, along with former DCP Radha Kishan Rao.
Prabhakar Rao, named as the principal accused, and Sravan Kumar, managing director of a private news outlet, are currently in the United States.
The Telangana Police recently announced their efforts to extradite the two accused.
Last month, Director General of Police Dr Jitender stated that their request for Red Corner notices is with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
In November of the previous year, police interrogated former BRS MLAs Jaipal Yadav and Chirumarthi Lingaiah regarding the phone tapping allegations.
