Hyderabad: BJP MP Eatala Rajender on Tuesday alleged that the previous BRS government tapped phones out of fear of electoral defeat, as he recorded his statement before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the illegal surveillance case. The SIT has so far identified over 4,000 phones allegedly placed under surveillance during the previous administration.
Eatala deposed before SIT officials at Jubilee Hills Police Station. In his statement, he said he was the first to be targeted and claimed that his family members, gunmen, and drivers were also put under watch. The surveillance, he alleged, extended through the Huzurabad by-election and continued before and after the 2023 elections.
He said that all his conversations were monitored and that those he interacted with were subsequently threatened. “They listened to everything, including our internal planning for the Munugode bypoll. BRS tapped phones not for law enforcement, but because they were scared of losing elections,” Etela said.
He accused the then Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao of running an unconstitutional surveillance operation and slammed the former SIB chief Prabhakar Rao for acting in violation of rules. He alleged that phones of prominent figures from various fields were tapped. “This is a serious assault on the freedom guaranteed by the Constitution. Political leaders were treated like anti-nationals,” he said.
He criticised the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government for forming committees on the phone tapping and Kaleshwaram issues but taking no concrete steps. “This probe is moving at a snail’s pace. Officers are still behaving like KCR loyalists,” Etela remarked.
Senior BJP leader Premender Reddy also recorded his statement with the SIT. He confirmed that both his phones were tapped during the election period. “This is a disgrace. The BRS misused state machinery to spy on political opponents, journalists, even celebrities,” he said.
Reddy said BJP suffered electoral losses due to surveillance, with internal strategies being leaked. He accused both BRS and Congress of using state surveillance tools for political ends. “They are calling only a handful of victims as witnesses. Thousands were affected,” he said.
He demanded a CBI inquiry, arguing that only a central investigation could expose the actual masterminds. He also alleged that even before the 2023 polls, his phone had likely been tapped, and warned that the current Congress government might also be involved in similar activities.
Separate complaints were filed with the SIT by Kukatpally MLA Madhavaram Krishna Rao and TDP organising secretary Vejandla Kishore Babu, both alleging surveillance by the BRS regime. Kishore Babu submitted what he said was supporting evidence.
The SIT probe into illegal phone tapping remains ongoing.
