Hyderabad: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) continued custodial questioning of former Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) chief Prabhakar Rao for the fifth day on Tuesday in the phone tapping case.
During the probe, SIT officers found that Prabhakar Rao used a mobile phone during his tenure as SIB chief. Someone formatted that phone at his Hyderabad residence in April this year. However, officials confirmed that Prabhakar Rao was in the United States at the time.
Sources said a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report confirmed the timing and location of the phone formatting.
SIT probes formatted phone linked to Prabhakar Rao
The SIT is now investigating who formatted the phone and the reasons behind the move. Officers are checking who stayed at the residence during that period and who assisted in the process.
Investigators are also examining whose instructions led to the formatting. The SIT questioned Prabhakar Rao using WhatsApp call records, chat logs and IP address data. However, sources said he failed to give clear answers.
Officials said Prabhakar Rao travelled to the United States after police registered a case at Panjagutta police station on March 10, 2024. The SIT is also probing why someone deleted data from mobile phones, cloud storage and a laptop around the same time.
Sources said the SIT has strong evidence suggesting that phone tapping took place on the orders of the previous government. Investigators are continuing the probe to identify who authorised the phone tapping.