HYDERABAD: BRS working president and former minister KT Rama Rao was examined by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for around seven hours on Friday in connection with the phone-tapping case, sources said.
Rama Rao was the second senior BRS leader to appear before the SIT, after former minister T Harish Rao, who was examined on Tuesday. Former Task Force DCP Radha Kishan Rao, one of the accused in the case, was also summoned to the Jubilee Hills police station. However, he was not confronted with Rama Rao.
Rama Rao told reporters after the examination that the SIT asked him the same set of questions repeatedly and sought to know whether he was acquainted with certain individuals. He rejected media reports claiming that he was questioned along with Radha Kishan Rao. “There was no other Rao during the questioning except me,” Rama Rao said. He added that SIT officials told him he could be summoned again if required.
Though what transpired during the seven-hour examination remained unclear, sources said that the former minister was questioned about donations received by the BRS during the 2023 elections, funds obtained through Electoral Bonds, and whether phones were tapped to “facilitate” fund-raising. The SIT reportedly asked whether a war room was set up in Sircilla, which Rama Rao represents in the Assembly, for phone-tapping.
Sources said the SIT questioned him on whether funds were transferred from the BRS account to procure software required for phone-tapping from Israel. He was also asked about his acquaintance with A Sravan Rao, owner of a vernacular news channel and an accused in the case, sources said.
They said that the SIT also questioned Rama Rao about the alleged tapping of phones of A Revanth Reddy, the then Opposition leader. Queries were raised about WhatsApp and Telegram calls made by Rama Rao to Praneeth Rao, Prabhakar Rao, Radha Kishan Rao and other accused persons in the case.
Officials reportedly referred to Electoral Bonds worth `13 crore purchased by S. Sridhar Rao of Sandhya Convention in favour of the BRS, allegedly to settle a property issue.
Speaking to reporters after emerging from the police station, Rama Rao said he had asked the SIT officials whether they could say that no phone-tapping was taking place now. He claimed that the officials “minced words” in response.
Nothing but attempts to tarnish my image: KTR
Before leaving for the Jubilee Hills police station, Rama Rao told reporters that he was “swearing by the land of our birth, I affirm that I have not engaged in any illegal or unethical activities”. He said police officials who were attempting to tarnish his image and indulging in character assassination would face consequences once the BRS returned to power.
Rama Rao said he had questioned SIT officials about reports in some newspapers and YouTube channels claiming that phones of some actresses were tapped and that they were threatened. According to him, an official told him that those reports were incorrect and that clarifications had already been issued.
Alleging sustained attempts over the past two years to damage his reputation, Rama Rao said, “False and disgraceful stories were written claiming that I take drugs and that I have relationships with actresses, causing immense mental distress to me and my family.
Under the pretext of phone-tapping, my character has been maligned. You leak stories saying that I tapped the phones of heroines and then publish those same lies. Who is responsible for the damage caused to my reputation and dignity?”
Earlier, Rama Rao travelled from his Narsingi residence to Telangana Bhavan, the BRS headquarters, where party leaders, including T Harish Rao, gathered in support. He addressed the media there before leaving for the Jubilee Hills police station.
High drama prevailed at Telangana Bhavan as police locked the main gates and prevented BRS workers from proceeding towards the police station.
In a press release, Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar said Rama Rao was examined in detail on Friday. Relevant aspects of the case were elicited and were being analysed with the evidence on record. Rama Rao was instructed not to contact or influence any witnesses and was informed that he might be summoned again, if required.
The examination relates to Crime No. 243 of 2024 registered at Panjagutta police station, involving allegations of widespread unauthorised and illegal phone surveillance and interception of thousands of citizens, including politicians, businesspersons, journalists, members of the judiciary and other prominent individuals.
“It has been noticed that misleading and baseless information is being circulated by certain sections of the media and individuals claiming that phone interception was done on security grounds and that no illegality was involved. The Investigating Agency is not concerned with such false narratives. The investigation is being conducted strictly in accordance with law, fairly and professionally,” Sajjanar’s statement said.
Harish writes to kishan on ‘major scams’
Hyderabad: Continuing to target the state government on the coal block tenders of the SCCL, BRS leader T Harish Rao on Friday alleged that several “major scams” took place in the 107 MW solar power project of Singareni. In a 11-point letter he wrote to Union Coal & Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy, the former minister demanded immediate action on the issue. Alleging that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s brother-in-law has a role in Singareni irregularities, he said: “If the chief minister is honest, he should order an SIT probe against his brother-in-law Srujan Reddy.”