Rao also clarified that he was never a part of the Phone Tapping Review Committee. Defending himself further, he stated that the crucial hard disks in question were damaged only after his resignation.

metro india news  I hyderabad

In a key development in the Telangana phone tapping case, former Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) chief T Prabhakar Rao, the prime accused, appeared before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for questioning. After being on the run for over a year and staying in the United States, Rao landed in Hyderabad on Sunday night and presented himself at the Jubilee Hills police station on Monday, complying with the Supreme Court’s directive issued on May 29 that granted him interim protection and instructed him to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

According to sources, Prabhakar Rao was interrogated by SIT officials, led by Jubilee Hills ACP P Venkatagiri, regarding his alleged role in illegal phone surveillance during the tenure of the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi government. Rao was questioned extensively about the formation of a clandestine operations team within the SIB that allegedly conducted unauthorized surveillance on political leaders, journalists, businessmen, film actors etc.

No Link to me”: Prabhakar Rao refutes all allegations

Sources familiar with the investigation disclosed that during the interrogation, T Prabhakar Rao strongly denied any involvement in the phone tapping scandal. He is learnt to have told the SIT officials that he had no connection whatsoever with the case and challenged them to present any evidence proving that he had ordered the surveillance operations. Rao also clarified that he was never a part of the Phone Tapping Review Committee.

Defending himself further, he stated that the crucial hard disks in question were damaged only after his resignation. "I submitted my resignation at 4 PM on December 4, 2023, and the data destruction occurred around 8 PM the same day — that act has no link to me," he reportedly said. Despite his denials, investigators continue to believe that Rao played a central role in assembling a dedicated surveillance team under a suspended DSP within the SIB and was instrumental in overseeing a vast illegal surveillance operation aimed at political espionage. His questioning is expected to continue as authorities work to verify the accuracy of his claims against the growing body of evidence collected over the past several months.

From Top Cop to Prime Accused

T Prabhakar Rao began his career as an IPS officer in 1991 and steadily rose through the ranks. He was promoted to Inspector General (IG) in 2019 and, following his retirement, was appointed SIB Chief in 2020 by the then BRS government. His appointment was considered strategic due to his perceived loyalty to the political leadership of the time.

Investigators allege that Prabhakar Rao misused his post to orchestrate a wide-ranging illegal surveillance network. He is suspected of directing his subordinates to tap phones and develop secret dossiers on individuals perceived as political threats or detractors of the government.

According to SIT findings, Rao fled to the United States just days before the case came to light, leading to a lookout notice, the revocation of his passport, and a proclamation order issued by a Hyderabad court on May 20, 2025. Rao returned to India on June 8 through Dubai, using emergency travel documents, after the Supreme Court intervened and directed him to appear before the SIT for investigation.

A Scandal that shook the State

The Telangana Phone Tapping case broke in March 2024, just few months before the general elections. The scandal has rocked Telangana’s political and administrative establishment, raising serious questions about the misuse of state surveillance mechanisms for political gains. 

Initial investigations led to the arrest of DSP Praneeth Rao, who allegedly attempted to erase sensitive intelligence data from SIB devices to hide the scope of illegal surveillance. Subsequent arrests included senior police officers Radha Kishan Rao, Bhujanga Rao, and Tirupatanna — all of whom are out on bail.

Investigators have uncovered evidence suggesting that over 45 hard drives containing surveillance data were destroyed as the previous government prepared to exit office. It is alleged that surveillance targeted a wide cross-section of individuals, including political rivals, business leaders, journalists, and even members of the judiciary, with no legal authorization.

The accused are believed to have operated with impunity, forming unauthorized teams within the SIB and using its resources to benefit the then ruling BRS party. Police say the intention was to obtain political advantage by monitoring and profiling perceived threats and dissenters. The SIT suspects a concerted effort to delete digital evidence and obstruct justice once the change in government became imminent. Authorities are also working to identify individuals whose privacy was violated and build a comprehensive case against those responsible.

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