The questioning follows recent constitution of a SIT by Telangana government to expedite the probe into alleged illegal phone tapping during the previous BRS regime.
Published Jan 20, 2026 | 7:10 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 20, 2026 | 7:10 PM
Harish Rao questioned by SIT. (Supplied)
Synopsis: The questioning follows the recent constitution of a Special Investigation Team by the Telangana government to expedite the probe into the alleged illegal phone tapping during the previous BRS regime. The SIT is headed by Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar and comprises senior police officers.
Former Minister and BRS Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao was questioned for more than seven hours by the Special Investigation Team on Tuesday, January 20, in connection with the phone tapping case, even as police refused to disclose when the interrogation would conclude, triggering protests by lawyers and leaders of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi.
Rao, who is also the BRS Legislature Party deputy leader, appeared before the SIT at the Jubilee Hills Assistant Commissioner of Police office around 11 am, following a notice issued a day earlier. Heavy police deployment was seen in and around the office as he arrived for questioning.
Sources said advocates accompanying Rao were not allowed to enter the ACP office. Lawyers objected to the prolonged questioning, arguing that Rao had been summoned only as a witness and that keeping him at the police station for several hours was unjustified. They alleged that the police were deliberately delaying the process under the guise of interrogation.
Tension prevailed outside the ACP office as BRS leaders and advocates demanded clarity on the questioning. Party workers who sought information about Rao’s status alleged that police resorted to force against them. Lawyers and BRS leaders accused the police of displaying aggressive behaviour towards those protesting peacefully and demanded that Rao be released immediately.
The questioning follows the recent constitution of a Special Investigation Team by the Telangana government to expedite the probe into the alleged illegal phone tapping during the previous BRS regime. The SIT is headed by Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar and comprises senior police officers.
The case relates to allegations that the Special Intelligence Branch illegally intercepted phone calls to benefit the BRS during the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections. The matter came to light after the arrest of former SIB Deputy Superintendent of Police Praneeth Rao on 13 March 2024, following a complaint by Additional Superintendent of Police D Ramesh, who accused him of unauthorised interception of calls of political leaders and senior officials.
According to investigators, more than one lakh phone calls were allegedly intercepted, and over 600 individuals were profiled, including politicians, judges, actors, and businessmen. Those reportedly monitored included present Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, leaders from the Congress and BJP, and even some BRS members. The intelligence gathered was allegedly used for extortion, and investigators claim that 17 hard drives were destroyed and dumped into the Musi river to erase evidence after the change of government.
The FIR in the case was registered after a complaint by Siddipet resident Chakradhar Goud at the Punjagutta Police Station, alleging that his phone was tapped with the involvement of Rao and then DCP Radha Kishan Rao.
The summons to Rao followed the Supreme Court’s 5 January decision to dismiss the Telangana government’s petition challenging the quashing of FIR against him. The apex court declined to interfere with earlier orders of the Telangana High Court that had ruled in Rao’s favour.
Reacting to the interrogation, BRS leaders accused the Congress government of indulging in vendetta politics. Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council V. Madhusudana Chary alleged that Rao was targeted for exposing the Singareni scam and said the government was using diversionary tactics to deflect attention from its failures.
Former Minister V. Prashanth Reddy alleged that Congress Ministers were involved in multiple irregularities and that cases were being filed against BRS leaders to suppress scrutiny. He cited alleged issues in civil supplies, Samakka Sarakka tenders, HAM road projects, and the allotment of industrial lands.
Rajya Sabha MP V. Ravichandra said the public was watching the government’s actions closely and accused it of registering false cases to kill time. He said BRS leaders, including K. Chandrashekhar Rao, K.T. Rama Rao, and Harish Rao, had faced jail earlier during the Telangana movement and would not be intimidated now.
Former Minister S. Niranjan Reddy alleged misuse of police machinery and warned that officials would be held accountable in the future. The SIT has already questioned former Telangana intelligence chief T. Prabhakar Rao, who is named as the prime accused in the case.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Sumit Jha)
