Telangana forms SIT to probe alleged phone tapping scandal
Telangana police order SIT to swiftly investigate phone tapping case and submit a charge sheet without unnecessary delay.
Hyderabad: In a major development surrounding the alleged phone tapping scandal during the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) regime, Telangana Police on Thursday constituted a new Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. The SIT will operate under the overall supervision of Hyderabad Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar, with the order for its formation issued by Director General of Police (DGP) B. Shivadhar Reddy. The nine-member team has been tasked with conducting a thorough investigation and ensuring that a charge sheet is filed expeditiously, signaling the state’s determination to bring accountability and transparency to the case.
The SIT comprises senior police officers from across Telangana. Members include Ramagundam Police Commissioner Ambar Kishore Jha, Siddipet Commissioner of Police S. M. Vijay Kumar, Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) Ritiraj and K. Narayan Reddy, Greyhounds Group Commander M. Ravinder Reddy, Additional DCP K. S. Rao, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) P. Venkatagiri, and Deputy Superintendents of Police Ch. Sridhar and Nagender Rao. ACP Jubilee Hills, P. Venkatagiri, has been appointed as the investigating officer. Venkatagiri has been heading the investigation into the case registered at Panjagutta Police Station in March 2024, ensuring continuity in the probe while bolstering it with the expertise of the newly constituted team.
The formation of the SIT comes just a week after Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) former chief T. Prabhakar Rao surrendered before the ACP-led team. Rao, a retired IPS officer, appeared on December 12, following directions from the Supreme Court, which had ordered his surrender for custodial interrogation. The Supreme Court had passed the orders while hearing Rao’s petition for anticipatory bail in connection with his alleged role in orchestrating illegal surveillance of several prominent individuals during the BRS government’s tenure.
Prabhakar Rao has been accused of constituting a special SIB team to conduct unauthorized phone tapping targeting individuals perceived to be working against the BRS administration. The alleged targets included Congress and BJP leaders, businessmen, celebrities, journalists, members of civil society, and even judges, highlighting the gravity and reach of the surveillance operations. The scandal came to light in March 2024 when former Deputy Superintendent of Police D. Praneeth Rao was arrested following a complaint from his superior. Subsequent arrests in the case included retired Deputy Commissioner of Police P. Bhujanga Rao and M. Thirupathanna.
Following the BRS’s defeat in the 2023 elections, Prabhakar Rao resigned from his post and left for the United States shortly before the case was formally registered against him. On May 29, 2025, the Supreme Court directed authorities to facilitate an emergency travel document to enable his return. As per his undertaking to the court, Rao returned to India on June 8, 2025, ready to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
The DGP’s order specifies that the SIT shall complete the investigation and submit the charge sheet promptly, reflecting the urgency and seriousness with which the Telangana Police are treating this high-profile case. With seasoned officers at the helm and a clear mandate, the SIT is expected to meticulously examine all aspects of the alleged illegal surveillance and ensure that justice is delivered transparently.
This development represents a crucial step toward restoring public trust in law enforcement and addressing concerns of abuse of power during the previous administration. As the investigation proceeds, authorities have emphasized that all actions will prioritize the rule of law, fairness, and accountability, signaling a commitment to uphold democratic principles while delivering justice to those affected by the alleged phone tapping operations.