Telangana phone tapping case: Hyderabad Police have nabbed two more superintendents of police in connection with the Telangana phone-tapping scandal. This arrest is part of an investigation concerning accusations of phone tapping and the destruction of computer systems and official documents.
Additional Superintendent of Police N Bhujanga Rao and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Thirupathanna were placed under arrest, according to statements made public late on Saturday night. Both officers had served in the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) and Intelligence Department, respectively. On Sunday, they were placed under judicial custody on remand.
What is the Telangana phone-tapping case?
The case concerns accusations of extensive phone tapping of political figures, including Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, during the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) administration under K Chandrashekar Rao.
The scandal surfaced following the arrest of Praneeth Rao on March 13 for his alleged role in the unauthorized profiling of individuals, illicit phone tapping, and destruction of computer systems and official data. Subsequently, the Telangana government suspended him.
What are the allegations?
Praneeth Rao was arrested following a complaint lodged by an additional superintendent of police from the SIB. A case was filed against Rao and others at Panjagutta police station, with charges including criminal breach of trust, tampering with evidence, and involvement in a criminal conspiracy.
It is claimed that the intelligence team also engaged in extortion from businessmen and eradicated all evidence of their actions, which included computers, hard disks, and paper documents.
Which individuals’ phones were subject to tapping?
Over 100,000 phone calls were allegedly illegally tapped, according to reports. Investigators think that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, and possibly BRS members could have been observed in addition to Chief Minister Reddy.
The group purportedly obtained data regarding political figures’ fundraising activities. The accused also allegedly kept tabs on several Telugu actors and businessmen, utilizing information obtained to blackmail these individuals.
Who has been implicated in this case?
Several well-known people have been linked to the affair, including suspended DSP D Praneeth Rao, former Commissioner’s Task Force DCP P Radhakrishna, former SIB chairman T Prabhakar Rao, and a Telugu TV channel executive.A lookout circular has been issued against T Prabhakar, who is listed as the primary suspect in the case and is suspected of attempting to flee the country.
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The recent detention of the two senior police officials, Thirupathanna and Bhujanga Rao is linked to accusations of collaborating with suspended DSP D Praneeth Rao. Rao, who was arrested earlier, stands accused of deleting intelligence data and engaging in illegal phone tapping during the previous administration.
During questioning, the detained officers admitted to participating in various offenses, such as illicit surveillance of private individuals and destruction of evidence.
The investigation is still underway.