The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Telangana police, which is investigating the phone-tapping scandal that occurred under the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) regime, has discovered that the phone of ABN-Andhra Jyothy Managing Director Vemuri Radha Krishna was also tapped.
The SIT has issued summons for his questioning. Radha Krishna responded that he would appear for questioning upon receiving a formal notice.
According to new revelations in the scandal, the SIT confirmed that between November 15 and 30, 2023, as many as 4,013 phone numbers were illegally tapped.
These include the phones of 618 political leaders from various parties, along with IAS and IPS officers, industrialists, and journalists.
Among those targeted were the phones of family members and aides of prominent leaders such as Revanth Reddy, Bandi Sanjay, Etela Rajender, and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy.
The SIT plans to issue notices to several other leaders soon, including Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Mynampally Hanumantha Rao, former MLA K.S. Ratnam, Marri Shashidhar Reddy, and BRS leaders Padma Devender Reddy, Marri Janardhan Reddy, and Tati Kondal Rajayya.
Phones belonging to IAS officers such as Ronald Ross and Gautham were also tapped. So far, statements from 228 of the 618 identified individuals have been recorded.
Crucially, the SIT currently possesses data only for November 2023; the rest has reportedly been destroyed.
The BJP has demanded that the case be handed over to the CBI, asserting that only a central agency can uncover the full truth.
The Congress government has promised that anyone found guilty—regardless of their status — will be arrested. However, to date, only officials have been investigated and arrested, with no clarity yet on the political masterminds behind the operation.
Meanwhile, the SIT has issued notices to Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary Gaddam Chandrasekhar Reddy and DCC Legal Cell Chairman Devaraju Goud.
On Wednesday, Chandrasekhar Reddy, his personal assistant Karunakar Reddy, driver Ashok, and Congress leader Aravind appeared before the SIT at the Jubilee Hills Police Station.
Chandrasekhar had actively campaigned alongside Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s brother during the 2023 elections. His residence was also raided multiple times during the election period.
