Hyderabad: BRS MLC Sravan Dasoju has accused Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of orchestrating an illicit surveillance operation through the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), extending to phone tapping and tracking of ministers, bureaucrats, journalists, and political opponents.
Dasoju cited a report by a leading news portal, alleging that private conversations and movements were being monitored without any judicial or executive sanction. “This is not governance – it is espionage within the heart of government,” he said.
He described the situation as a severe breach of privacy, misuse of official machinery, and a betrayal of democratic principles. He likened the alleged surveillance to methods used in authoritarian regimes. “Imagine a democracy where ministers fear their own phones. This is a threat to trust and transparency,” he added.
Legally, Dasoju pointed to the Supreme Court’s 1997 PUCL v. Union of India ruling, which affirmed the right to privacy under Article 21. He highlighted that surveillance in India must follow strict legal procedures, via State Home Secretary approval and a legally constituted apex committee under Rule 419A of the Indian Telegraph Rules, 2007. According to him, none of these safeguards were followed.
He urged Governor Jishnu Dev Varma to step in and form a judicial inquiry panel led by a retired Supreme Court or High Court judge. The probe, he said, must examine the sources of orders, roles of the Chief Secretary, DGP, Home Secretary, and other officials involved in the surveillance chain.
Shri Revanth Reddy’s Snooping Scandal Exposed: A Grave Betrayal of Privacy, Cabinet Trust, and Constitutional Governance. @revanth_anumula @TelanganaCMO
Urgent Appeal to the Hon’ble Governor to Constitute a Judicial Inquiry and Shield Telangana from the Chief Minister’s Abuse… pic.twitter.com/wemtPNELSh
— Prof Dasoju Sravan Kumar (@sravandasoju) July 20, 2025
Dasoju appealed to the Governor under Articles 159, 163(2), and 356 of the Constitution, stating that such misuse of power demands constitutional intervention. He insisted that the inquiry findings be made public and that those found guilty, including the Chief Minister, face prosecution under the Indian Telegraph Act, the IT Act, and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
He also urged Union Ministers Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay to urge the Governor to act swiftly, warning that unchecked surveillance undermines civil liberties and democratic governance in Telangana.
