Hyderabad: The phone tapping scandal that has rocked Telangana politics took another twist on Monday as SIT investigators issued fresh notices to key accused and former SIB Chief, Prabhakar Rao, summoning him for further questioning on June 11.
The SIT directed Prabhakar Rao to bring along two mobile phones he allegedly used during the last Telangana Assembly elections and subsequent by-elections. They also ordered him to produce his laptop and MacBook devices believed to contain crucial data linked to the case.
This move follows an intense eight-hour interrogation at the Jubilee Hills Police Station on June 9, during which police recorded Rao’s statement and video documentation of the entire session.
During Monday’s questioning, investigators focused on Rao’s alleged links to Praneeth Rao another accused in the case and his activities as SIB Chief. The SIT pressed him on allegations of large-scale phone tapping, as well as the suspicious destruction of hard disks at the SIB office.
Sources said Rao was grilled about who had instructed Praneeth Rao to wipe the hard disks and replace them with new ones, as well as the potential loss of decades’ worth of sensitive information on terrorism and extremist activities.
As the investigation deepens, the SIT’s focus appears to be on uncovering the chain of command behind the controversial surveillance activities. By demanding the production of mobile phones and laptops, they aim to trace digital footprints and establish links between the accused and the alleged offences.
