The investigation into the alleged phone tapping scandal has gathered momentum, with the newly-formed Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Hyderabad police commissioner V C Sajjannar intensifying its probe and focusing on political leadership.
As part of the investigation, the SIT has already examined members of the review committee constituted during the tenure of former special intelligence bureau (SIB) chief T Prabhakar Rao, who is accused of playing a key role in the illegal surveillance operation.
Sources indicate that the SIT is preparing to issue notices to Bharat Rashtra Samithi chief and former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) and former minister T Harish Rao, marking a significant turning point in the case.
The SIT has already recorded statements from former chief secretaries Somesh Kumar and Shanthi Kumari, former intelligence chief Naveen Chand, former political secretary in the general administration department (GAD) Raghunandan Rao, and other senior IAS and IPS officers.
During Prabhakar Rao’s interrogation, he reportedly repeatedly named former DGP Mahender Reddy and former intelligence official Anil Kumar. The SIT has already recorded Mahender Reddy’s statement.
Investigators have found evidence suggesting that phones of political leaders, businesspersons, and media professionals were tapped during the previous government.
It was also revealed that certain former IPS officers forwarded phone numbers given by Prabhakar Rao to the Home Department without due verification.
The SIT is now working towards filing a supplementary chargesheet, and the possible issuance of notices to KCR has heightened political anticipation, especially with the Assembly session scheduled to begin on the 29th of this month.
