SIT moves SC to oppose arrest protection for Prabhakar Rao in phone tapping case

Hyderabad: In a major development in the phone tapping investigation, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) is moving the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of the interim arrest protection granted to former official Prabhakar Rao.

SIT officials—DCP Vijay Kumar and ACP Venkatagiri—have travelled to Delhi to file a petition opposing Rao’s plea for continued exemption from arrest. The petition will be linked to an anticipatory bail application filed by Rao, which is scheduled for hearing in the apex court on August 4.

Rao, who recently returned from the US, had obtained interim protection from arrest through the Supreme Court, which also directed him to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. However, SIT sources claim that while Prabhakar Rao has made appearances before investigators, he has consistently dodged crucial questions and held back important details.

Frustrated by what they describe as non-cooperation, the SIT is now seeking custodial interrogation. Officials say they’re preparing to approach the top court to secure the legal backing needed to detain Rao for direct questioning, if it comes to that.