SIT Questions Harish Rao in Phone Tapping Case

The questioning of senior BRS leader and former minister Harish Rao in the phone tapping case has concluded. SIT officials questioned him for nearly seven hours at the SIT office in Jubilee Hills Police Station and recorded his statement during the inquiry. After the questioning was completed, Harish Rao proceeded directly from the Jubilee Hills Police Station to Telangana Bhavan, where he is expected to address the media. Reacting to the probe, Harish Rao expressed strong displeasure, alleging that baseless accusations were being made against him. He said the inquiry was merely a waste of time and asserted that it was his party that had raised questions over alleged irregularities in Singareni tenders. He further alleged the involvement of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s brother-in-law, Srujan Reddy, in the matter and demanded a judicial inquiry by a single judge into the issue.

It may be recalled that the SIT had issued notices to Harish Rao on January 19, directing him to appear for questioning in connection with the phone tapping case. Accordingly, he appeared before the SIT at 11 am on January 20. The inquiry, conducted under the leadership of SIT chief Sajjanar, reportedly focused on Harish Rao’s alleged role in the phone tapping case and questions related to whose phones were tapped. Sources indicate that the questioning is linked to a complaint filed by real estate businessman Chakradhar Goud, who had contested as an MLA candidate from Siddipet. In this case, some of Harish Rao’s associates were earlier arrested by Panjagutta police, and their statements were also recorded by the SIT. Based on evidence reportedly gathered by the SIT, including alleged involvement along with former i-News MD Shravan Rao, notices were issued to Harish Rao.

Meanwhile, the SIT continues its investigation based on statements of key accused, including former SIB chief Prabhakar Rao and other former police officials, as well as phone tapping details of 618 numbers obtained from telecom service providers. The SIT has already questioned former BRS MLAs Chirumarthi Lingayya and Jaipal Yadav and reportedly collected details related to phone tapping of political rivals and businesspersons in their respective constituencies.