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DSP accused in phone tapping case set to be demoted to inspector
DSP accused in phone tapping case set to be demoted to inspector

The Hindu

time01-07-2025

  • Politics
  • The Hindu

DSP accused in phone tapping case set to be demoted to inspector

In what is being described as 'side effect' of telephone tapping case, second accused D. Praneeth Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police under suspension, is likely to be demoted as Inspector. A sub-inspector of 2007 batch, Mr. Kumar, also known as Praneeth Rao, was shifted to the Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) in 2018 in the rank of Inspector. Before joining SIB, he served in Nalgonda district. Five years after his stint with SIB, he got elevated as DSP through 'accelerated promotion' which is extended to police officials for commendable performance in anti-Left wing extremist operations. There is no direct connection between his elevation as DSP through 'accelerated promotion' and the telephone tapping case, the accelerated promotion angle cropped up when the police officials probing the telephone tapping case began analysing different aspects of the case like why the prime accused and former police officer T. Prabhakar Rao specifically chose Mr. Praneeth Rao and others to eavesdrop on the phones of others. Mr. Prabhakar Rao was heading the SIB, while on extension of service following retirement, when the proposal for promoting Mr. Praneeth Rao as DSP was taken. Investigators, after questioning both of them, surmise that Mr. Praneeth Rao was 'gifted' with accelerated promotion as DSP though his work did not meet the standards applied to other police officers in such matters. Interestingly, a serving DSP M. Gangadhar (who eventually quit and entered politics by contesting for MLC) questioned Mr. Praneeth Rao's promotion by writing open letters to State police chief and Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. When police officials probing telephone tapping case dug deeper, they found that Mr. Praneeth Rao's promotion was not in compliance with the parameters or standards adhered to in accelerated promotions awarded to other police officers. Though Mr. Gangadhar challenged similar promotions awarded to three other police officers, the case of Mr. Praneeth Rao assumed importance because of his alleged complicity in telephone tapping case. The investigators reportedly submitted a report to the higher-ups pointing out the discrepancies in the accelerated promotion of Mr. Praneeth Rao. 'This has raised many issues relating to awarding accelerated promotions. Hopefully, the government would strictly adhere to procedures and justify all such pending proposals, if any,' said a police officer unwilling to be named.

Telangana: SIT to question former SIB chief Prabhakar Rao again today
Telangana: SIT to question former SIB chief Prabhakar Rao again today

Hans India

time17-06-2025

  • Politics
  • Hans India

Telangana: SIT to question former SIB chief Prabhakar Rao again today

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is intensifying its probe into the Phone Tapping Case, with former SIB chief Prabhakar Rao set to appear for questioning at the Jubilee Hills Police Station today at 11am. This marks Rao's fourth appearance before SIT officials. In a related development, PCC chief Mahesh Kumar Goud will also provide a statement today as a witness in the case. Goud's phone was reportedly tapped by Praneeth Rao's team, whose phone data revealed 400 compromised numbers. Former Gadwal ZP Chairperson Saritha, who contested as a Congress candidate in the last elections, will also appear before the SIT. Moreover, Praneeth Rao is scheduled to appear for questioning on Wednesday.

Ex-SIB chief lands in city, to appear before SIT today
Ex-SIB chief lands in city, to appear before SIT today

Hans India

time09-06-2025

  • Politics
  • Hans India

Ex-SIB chief lands in city, to appear before SIT today

Hyderabad: The key accused in the phone tapping case, former Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) chief T Prabhakar Rao arrived in Hyderabad from the United States on Sunday. He is likely to appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Monday. The retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, who has been in the US for 14 months, arrived in India as directed by the Supreme Court last week. Responding to the court orders, Prabhakar Rao gave an undertaking to the Supreme Court that he will return to India soon after receiving a one-time entry passport and cooperate with the investigation. The Indian Embassy in the United States also issued an emergency transit warrant to former SIB chief Prabhakar Rao, following orders by the Supreme Court to appear before the inquiry into the phone tapping case. The investigating team already achieved considerable progress in the phone tapping case by questioning the police officials and influential persons including journalists recently. Prabhakar Rao had allegedly constituted a team within SIB with a group of officials, including Praneeth Rao, for surveillance of rival political leaders, their families and dissidents within the ruling party, businessmen, journalists and even judges. The allegations under the previous government of BRS came to light in March last year with the arrest of Deputy Superintendent of Police Praneeth Rao following a complaint from his superior, D Ramesh, Additional SP with the SIB. The police have so far named six accused in the case. Praneeth Rao, Additional SPs Thirupathanna and Bhujanga Rao and former DCP P Radha Kishan Rao were arrested in the case.

Telangana phone tapping case: Former SIB chief returns from US
Telangana phone tapping case: Former SIB chief returns from US

Hans India

time08-06-2025

  • Politics
  • Hans India

Telangana phone tapping case: Former SIB chief returns from US

Telangana's former Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) chief T. Prabhakar Rao, a key accused in the phone tapping case, returned from the United States on Sunday. He is likely to appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Monday as per the undertaking given to the Supreme Court. The retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, who has been in the United States for 14 months, returned to India as directed recently by the apex court. He recently gave an undertaking to the Supreme Court that he will return to India soon after receiving emergency travel documents and cooperate with the investigation. The SIT hopes to make progress in the case relating to the alleged tapping of phones of politicians, businessmen, journalists and even judges under the previous government of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). The Supreme Court on May 29 ordered the authorities to return the passport to Prabhakar Rao to enable him to return to India. The apex court had also directed Prabhakar Rao to give an affidavit of undertaking that, within three days of the receipt of the passport/travel document, he will return to India. A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma had passed the order on a petition by Prabhakar Rao, challenging the Telangana High Court order dismissing his petition for anticipatory bail. The bench also barred police from taking any coercive step against him till further orders. Prabhakar Rao's counsel had submitted to the court that he had to apply for special permission to return to India. The court was told that he had gone to the US when the First Information Report (FIR) was registered against him. The retired IPS officer was subsequently declared an absconder, and his passport was also revoked. Stating that Prabhakar Rao has been hounded by the present government in Telangana, the lawyer also brought to the court's notice that a red-corner notice has been issued against him. The Nampally criminal court in Hyderabad last month issued proclamation orders against Prabhakar Rao for evading proceedings for over a year. Prabhakar Rao, who was heading the SIB when the BRS was in power, was declared an absconder by the SIT probing the case. He had allegedly constituted a team within SIB with his trusted aides, including Praneeth Rao, for surveillance of rival political leaders, their families and dissidents within the ruling party, businessmen, journalists and even judges. The allegations under the previous government of the BRS came to light in March last year with the arrest of Deputy Superintendent of Police Praneeth Rao following a complaint from his superior, Additional SP D. Ramesh, with the SIB. The police have so far named six accused in the case - Praneeth Rao, Additional SPs Thirupathanna and Bhujanga Rao and former DCP P. Radha Kishan Rao.

Phone tapping case: SC directs return of passport of Telangana ex-intelligence chief
Phone tapping case: SC directs return of passport of Telangana ex-intelligence chief

Hans India

time29-05-2025

  • Politics
  • Hans India

Phone tapping case: SC directs return of passport of Telangana ex-intelligence chief

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has ordered the Telangana Police to return the passport of former Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) chief T. Prabhakar Rao, the key accused in the phone tapping case, so he can return to India. The apex court also directed Prabhakar Rao, who is in the US, to give an affidavit of undertaking that, within 3 days of the receipt of the passport/travel document, he will return to India. A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma passed the order on a petition by Prabhakar Rao, challenging the Telangana High Court order dismissing his petition for anticipatory bail. The bench also barred police from taking any coercive step against Prabhakar Rao till further orders. Appearing for Prabhakar Rao, senior advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu submitted that he is unable to return from the United States and has to apply for special permission to return to India. The court was told that he had gone to the US when the First Information Report (FIR) was registered against him. The retired IPS officer was subsequently declared an absconder, and his passport was also revoked. Contending that Prabhakar Rao has been hounded by the present government in Telangana, the lawyer also brought to the court's notice that a red-corner notice has been issued against him. Prabhakar Rao's counsel submitted to the bench that the authorities have cancelled his passport, and he has to apply for special permission to come back. He pleaded that his passport be returned so that he could return and join the investigation. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for Telangana, opposed the plea and argued that no relief should be given to the petitioner. The court was also told that the Union government has sought his extradition. The bench observed that the petitioner can't come back to India unless his passport is returned. Last week, the Nampally criminal court in Hyderabad issued proclamation orders against Prabhakar Rao for evading proceedings for over a year. The court passed the order after being satisfied that Prabhakar Rao was deliberately avoiding the legal process. If he fails to appear within a month, the court may order the attachment of his assets. Prabhakar Rao was heading the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) when the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) was in power. The former IPS officer has been declared an absconder by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case. The phone-tapping allegations under the previous government of the BRS came to light in March this year with the arrest of Deputy Superintendent of Police Praneeth Rao following a complaint from his superior, ASP, DIB, D. Ramesh. The police have so far named six accused in the case. Praneeth Rao, Additional SPs Thirupathanna and Bhujanga Rao, and former DCP P. Radha Kishan Rao were arrested in the case. Then chief of SIB, Prabhakar Rao, had allegedly constituted a team within SIB with his trusted aides, including Praneeth Rao, for surveillance of rival political leaders, their families and dissidents within the ruling party, businessmen, journalists and even judges. Phone Tapping Case, T. Prabhakar Rao, Telangana Police, Supreme Court, Anticipatory Bail, Surveillance Scandal

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