High security, drama as SIT questions KCR for nearly five hours in phone tapping case

High drama played out amid tight security arrangements at Nandinagar on Sunday as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) completed nearly five hours of questioning of Bharat Rashtra Samithi chief and former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao in connection with the alleged phone tapping case. The questioning concluded in the evening after lasting four hours and forty five minutes, police officials said.

The inquiry began around 3 p.m. when a team of SIT officials, including senior officers, arrived at Mr. Chandrashekhar Rao’s residence and made arrangements for the examination in a designated room on the second floor. As per procedure, he was allowed to have one person present during the questioning, and former MP J. Santosh Kumar was permitted to accompany him. Senior advocate Ramchander Rao remained available for legal assistance during the process.

Former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao at his residence after being questioned by the SIT in connection with the alleged phone tapping case on Sunday.
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ARRANGEMENT

Sources said SIT officials carried certain documents and electronic devices into the residence as part of the inquiry. The SIT team comprised six officers, and questioning was carried out by Siddipet Commissioner S.M. Vijay Kumar, DCP Narayana Reddy, Additional DCP K.S. Rao, Jubilee Hills ACP P. Venkatagiri, Greyhounds Group Commander Ravinder Reddy and DSP Ch. Sridhar.

BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao was present at the house in his capacity as a family member. Senior party leaders, including T. Harish Rao and R.S. Praveen Kumar, along with legal advisers, were also at the residence. After the questioning ended, Mr. Chandrashekhar Rao met his lawyers and senior party colleagues.

Security was significantly tightened in and around the residence throughout the day, with multiple layers of police deployment and senior officers overseeing arrangements. Police also conducted aerial surveillance using a drone in the vicinity. Several BRS MLAs, MLCs and leaders gathered at Telangana Bhavan as developments unfolded.

Earlier, Mr. K.T. Rama Rao, Mr. T. Harish Rao and Mr. J. Santosh Kumar had appeared before the SIT on January 23, January 20 and January 27 respectively in connection with the same case. The investigation is continuing.

The case came to light after the arrest of former SIB DSP Praneeth Rao on March 13, 2024. He was picked up from his residence in Rajanna Sircilla following a complaint by Additional SP D. Ramesh, who alleged unlawful interception of phone calls belonging to senior political leaders and officials.