Former head of the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB), T Prabhakar Rao, is expected to arrive in Hyderabad from the United States on Monday. His questioning could reveal new information about illegal phone tapping and possibly involve high-profile political figures. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the case plans to question Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party leaders after speaking with the ex-SIB head.
A look out circular was issued for Prabhakar Rao, who is accused of ordering the illegal tapping of phones belonging to opposition leaders, celebrities, businessmen, and others during his time as SIB chief. The team is looking into Rao’s connections with former officers who carried out his orders.
There are suspicions that builders, jewellers, realtors, and hawala operatives financially supported Prabhakar Rao and his associates through political donations. A realtor named Sandhya Sridhar Rao filed a complaint with the police, stating that his phone was also tapped by N Bhujanga Rao, a former Additional SP of Intelligence.
In his complaint, Sridhar provided evidence and alleged that Bhujanga threatened him during a meeting at the office. Police are investigating Sridhar Rao’s claims as part of the case. Earlier, the state government suspended Additional DCP Thirupathanna and Additional Superintendent of Police N Bhujanga Rao for their alleged involvement in illegal phone tapping.
The two police officials had previously worked in the SIB and Intelligence Department and were accused of collaborating with suspended DSP D Praneeth Rao to erase intelligence information from electronic devices and tap phones during the previous BRS regime.
