In a significant development in the long-pending alleged phone tapping case from the previous BRS government's tenure, the Telangana state government has finally constituted a special investigation team. This move comes nearly two years after the Hyderabad police first registered a formal case.
Nine-Member SIT Takes Over Investigation
The state administration, on Thursday night, announced the formation of a nine-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations comprehensively. The SIT will be led by Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar, who will provide overall supervision. The team comprises senior officers from various units across the police force.
The order issued by Director General of Police (DGP) Shivadhar Reddy listed the members. They include Ramagundam Commissioner Ambar Kishore Jha, Siddipet Commissioner SM Vijay Kumar, and several Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) such as Ritiraj from Madhapur and K Narayan Reddy from Maheshwaram. Other members are Greyhounds Group Commander M Ravinder Reddy, Additional DCP KS Rao from Rajendranagar, ACP P Venkatagiri from Jubilee Hills, DSP Ch Sridhar from TGANB, and HMRL DSP Nagender Rao. Notably, ACP Venkatagiri will continue to serve as the Investigation Officer for the case.
Timing Coincides with Key Legal Developments
The government's decision to set up the SIT came on a crucial day. The police custody of the prime accused, former Special Intelligence Bureau chief Prabhakar Rao, ended on Thursday. This development occurred just ahead of a scheduled Supreme Court hearing related to the case on Friday. The formation of the SIT is seen as a step to demonstrate proactive investigation ahead of the apex court's proceedings.
The DGP's order explicitly directed the newly formed team to "complete the investigation and file the chargesheet expeditiously, maintaining the highest professional standards." This underscores the urgency and sensitivity with which the state government wants the probe to be handled.
Case Background and Previous Arrests
The roots of this case go back to March 2024, when the Punjagutta police station in Hyderabad registered a First Information Report (FIR). The case named six individuals as accused, with Prabhakar Rao being the key figure. Prior to this, the police had already made several arrests in connection with the scandal.
Those arrested earlier include two Additional Superintendents of Police—N Bhujanga Rao and Tirupathanna. Furthermore, former Hyderabad DCP (Task Force) Radhakishan Rao and DSP D Praneet Rao were also taken into custody. A preliminary chargesheet has already been filed against these four individuals, setting the stage for the broader SIT probe to uncover the full extent of the alleged illegal surveillance.
The alleged phone tapping is said to have occurred during the tenure of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government, casting a long shadow over the state's political and law enforcement history. The formation of the high-powered SIT, 21 months after the case was initially registered, marks a decisive phase in the investigation, with the public and judiciary awaiting its findings.
