Phone Tapping Row: A big revelation has been made in the Telangana phone tapping case. In fact, DCP P Radhakishan Rao, arrested in the case of large-scale phone tapping during the BRS government, has confessed his involvement in phone tapping by some officers of the Special Intelligence Bureau while they were in power. It is worth noting that phone tapping took place during the tenure of the KCR-led BRS government.
Arrested police officer P Radhakishan Rao said in his confession that the phones of many big opposition leaders, journalists, judges and lawyers were tapped. Along with this, they were also monitored through WhatsApp and other internet calls. The former DCP told the police that K. Chandrasekhar Rao wanted to make a compromise with the BJP by arresting BJP’s organization general secretary BL Santosh in the alleged MLA horse-trading case and getting his daughter Kavitha, who is involved in the Delhi liquor scam, to come to an agreement with the BJP.
It is noteworthy that after the formation of the Congress government in the state, a case was registered in Panjagutta police station of Hyderabad in the phone tapping case. So far in the investigation of this case, the then Task Force DCP Radhakrishna Rao and Intelligence DSP Pranith Rao, who were very close to the then government, have been arrested. Apart from this, Thirupathanna, Additional DCP, CSW, Hyderabad City Police, formerly Additional SP, SIB and N Bhujanga Rao, Additional SP, Bhupalpally, formerly Additional SP, Intelligence Department have been arrested.
Allegations of destroying evidence on the orders of Prabhakar Rao
During police interrogation, D Praneeth Rao and P Radhakishan Rao have confessed about their involvement in the crimes, which include conspiracy to illegally monitor private individuals by creating profiles of them by misusing their positions. Already arrested in the case are D Praneeth Kumar alias Praneeth Rao, DSP (suspended), who was earlier employed in SIB, and some other persons for destroying public property to hide their involvement in the conspiracy.
CM Revanth Reddy and his family members’ phones were tapped
According to the police, the arrested police officers are accused of tapping the phones of the current Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, his family members and close ones, as well as many other people. On the defeat of the BRS government, they also destroyed the hard disks, computers and other things that were in the Intelligence Department. However, Pranitha Rao was arrested first in the phone tapping case and finally DCP Radhakrishna, who had resigned as soon as the Congress government came to power. He has been arrested after interrogation.
Congress and BJP targeted BRS in the phone tapping case
According to the remand report of former task force chief Radhakrishna Rao Rao, the former intelligence chief had specifically formed a special operation group to keep an eye on and conduct surveillance on the political rivals of BRS. They worked for the victory of BRS through illegal means during the 2018 and 2023 assembly elections and targeted the opposition.
However, now the sword of arrest is also hanging over the then Intelligence Chief and IPS T Prabhakar Rao, who has been made the main accused in this case. An arrest warrant has also been issued against him by the court. It is believed that Rao is in America. Meanwhile, the ruling party Congress and BJP have cornered former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao and his son and former minister KTR and nephew and former minister Harish Rao in this case.
KCR threatened legal action
Meanwhile, denying the allegations against him, former CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao has threatened legal action. BRS Working President and former minister KTR has sent a legal notice to Telangana minister Konda Surekha and Congress leaders who accused of phone tapping. In this notice, KTR has demanded an unconditional apology or be ready for legal action.
Phone tapping of BJP, Congress and BRS members
According to the confession report received by ABP News, former Deputy Commissioner of Police of Hyderabad Task Force Radha Kishan Rao has confessed to Hyderabad Police about his involvement in a large-scale phone tapping campaign targeting several political leaders. Rao said in his confession that this campaign was conducted by Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) chief Prabhakar Rao.
He said that under the direction of Prabhakar Rao, the SIB systematically collected information about individuals considered a threat to the ruling BRS party. This intelligence was then passed on to SIB DSP Praneet Kumar, who kept a constant watch on these individuals to create profiles that could be used to control and neutralise potential threats to the BRS party.
Phone tapping was not limited to political figures
Radha Kishan Rao has revealed that the prominent personalities under surveillance include MLC Shambhipur Raju who had a dispute with Quthbullapur MLA, T. Rajaiah? Warangal BRS leader Kadiyam Srihari, unhappy with the BRS MLA and Tandur MLA. He also included party’s P Mahender Reddy and his wife. Apart from this, the phones of retired IPS RS Praveen Kumar, besides some media personalities like Narendra Chowdhary of NTV and Radhakrishna of ABN and even opposition party candidates were tapped.
Use of Internet Protocol Data Records
Former DCP Rao revealed that many businessmen in the real estate sector were also monitored to keep an eye on their activities and organizations. This spying led to many political leaders, members of the judiciary and bureaucrats avoiding direct phone calls, instead opting for encrypted communication platforms such as WhatsApp, Signal and Snapchat. In response, Prabhakar Rao and his team started recording Internet Protocol data to track internet calls.
On the instructions of the then intelligence department chief Prabhakar Rao, the phones of BRS MLAs trying to join BJP were tapped. In which some people along with Rohit Reddy were trying to join BJP. Apart from this, after getting information from Pilot Rohit Reddy, on the instructions of K. Chandrashekhar Rao, a sting operation was conducted on the middleman who came to Moinabad farm house for discussion and he was arrested.
There was a plan to arrest BL Santosh
Former CM KCR had ordered the arrest of BL Santosh in the MLA horse-trading case. The plan was to stop BL Santosh and save Kavitha from the liquor scam. However, KCR was upset after the attempts to arrest BJP leader BL Santosh failed. Apart from this, CM Revanth Reddy and his family members were monitored. Along with this, the phones of many BJP leaders and supporters of MP Arvind were tapped.
Police officers helped the BRS team during the assembly elections
A particularly disturbing element of this entire racket is linked to iNews journalist Shravan Kumar. Rao’s confession indicates that during the election in October and November 2023, Shravan Kumar maintained direct contact with Prabhakar Rao at the behest of then minister T. Harish Rao. Shravan Kumar facilitated the flow of information from opposition party leaders and their financial backers to the SIB.
He provided inputs for the seizure of money from rival leaders and assisted Praneet Kumar’s team in online trolling campaigns against critics of the BRS party. The use of state resources for this political espionage has raised serious ethical and legal questions.
Phones of Congress and BJP supporters were also tapped
Another official N Bhujanga Rao, who was accessed by ABP News, said that Bhujanga Rao tapped the phones of those who worked against the BRS party. Bhujanga Rao tapped the phones of those who provided financial aid to the BJP and Congress parties. Along with this, the phones of opposition leaders, student leaders and journalists were tapped. Not only this, the phones and vehicles of the family members of opposition leaders were also tracked. Apart from this, the phones of Congress and BJP supporters were also tapped.
Bhujanga Rao did many settlements at the behest of BRS leaders
In October, the Election Commission transferred Radhakishan Rao and many others. In his confession, Bhujanga Rao said that our plan was to bring BRS to power for the third time. Whereas, on the instructions of BRS leaders, Bhujanga Rao settled personal disputes. In which many disputes of companies, VIPs and businessmen were settled on the instructions of BRS leaders.
Forced to buy electronic bonds worth Rs 13 crore
Apart from this, before the assembly elections, as per the orders of BRS leaders, a large amount of money was taken from two private hospitals and the money was transported in the vehicles of the task force. Along with this, Bhujanga Rao said that Sandhya Sridhar Rao was forced to buy electronic bonds worth Rs 13 crore. If he did not agree, we tortured him in criminal cases.
Special arrangements were made for Kamareddy elections. In this, special surveillance was kept on BJP candidate Venkatarami Reddy, Revanth Reddy’s brother Kondal Reddy. Along with this, those who criticize the BRS government led by K. Chandrasekhar Rao or who are considered a threat to the party are kept under intense electronic surveillance.