BRS leader Rama Rao appears before Telangana SIT in phone tapping case

In connection with the alleged phone tapping case, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K T Rama Rao on Friday (January 23) appeared before the Telangana Police SIT at Jubilee Hills police station for his examination.

Rao, son of BRS president and former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, was served a notice on Thursday (January 22) for an appearance before the SIT concerning the alleged phone tapping during the previous BRS regime.

Also read: Phone-tapping: What Harish Rao case tells us about KCR-era governance

Speaking to reporters at BRS office before his appearance, Rao, who was municipal administration minister during the BRS government, said he has done no wrong or involved in any illegal, immoral activities during his stint in power.

Allegations

In a vitriolic attack on Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and the Congress government, he alleged that the "state cabinet has become like a gang of thieves with their corruption.”

Reddy, who faced allegations of corruption when he was in opposition, is now trying to defame him, Rao alleged.

He further said there has been an attempted character assassination during the last several years by the Congress by making wild allegations and "leaks to the media", he alleged.

During his questioning, he would ask the police officials as to who is responsible for his character assassination in the form of "media leaks", he said.

Also read: LoP Ashoka accuses Karnataka govt of tapping legislators' phones

The BRS leader added that he is ready to appear before the investigators even if called again.

Countering Rao's allegations, ruling Congress MLC Addanki Dayakar alleged that the BRS had "looted" the state after coming to power by taking advantage of people's sentiments in favour of Telangana statehood.

Denying any political harassment against the BRS leader, he said the Congress government would act as per law.

Phone tapping case

Rao's cousin and senior BRS MLA T Harish Rao was on January 20 questioned by the SIT in the phone tapping case. Former Telangana intelligence chief T Prabhakar Rao, the prime accused in the case was earlier questioned by the SIT.

A suspended DSP of Telangana Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) was among four police officials who have been arrested by Hyderabad Police since March 2024 for allegedly erasing the intelligence information from various electronic gadgets as well as for alleged phone-tapping during the previous BRS regime. They were subsequently granted bail.

Also read: Telangana phone-tapping case: SIT questions BRS leader Harish Rao

Harish Rao's examination was solely in connection with the phone tapping case, wherein serious allegations with respect to widespread unauthorised and illegal surveillance, monitoring, and interception of phone calls of politicians, businesspersons are being investigated, Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar had said.

A detailed investigation has been going on into the case with the first chargesheet having been filed against certain accused persons, police said.

(With agency inputs)