KCR challenges SIT notice, BRS calls it political targeting
HYDERABAD: Bharat Rashtra Samithi president and former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has termed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) notices issued to him in Crime No. 243/2024 as illegal, unconstitutional and in violation of Supreme Court directions, while reiterating that he would cooperate with the inquiry.
In a detailed response to Jubilee Hills Assistant Commissioner of Police P. Venkata Giri, Rao said the manner in which the SIT officials acted was contrary to law and amounted to an infringement of his constitutional rights. He alleged that the SIT had no jurisdiction to issue notices to him and accused the police of disregarding Supreme Court judgments.
Rao said the first two notices issued by the SIT were illegal and issued in violation of legal procedure. He said that after receiving the first notice, he had informed the police that he was occupied with municipal election work and sought a different date for inquiry. He also brought to the notice of the SIT the provisions of Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which mandate that persons above 65 years of age must be questioned at their place of residence.
He said he had clearly instructed that all future notices be sent to his residence at Erravalli village, where he had been residing for several years. However, despite this, a notice bearing the ACP’s signature was pasted on the wall of his Nandi Nagar residence at around 9 pm by unidentified persons.
“If the notice was issued by you or pasted on your instructions, I strongly object to it,” Rao said, adding that such an act showed “disregard for the Constitution, the law and the Supreme Court”.
Citing the Supreme Court judgment in Satender Kumar Antil vs Central Bureau of Investigation, Rao said the apex court had categorically held that notices could not be served through WhatsApp or other electronic modes and must be issued strictly in the manner prescribed by law. He said Section 160 notices must be personally served and alleged that the SIT had deliberately violated both the law and Supreme Court directions, which could amount to contempt of court.
Rao said that despite being clearly informed that he resided at Erravalli, the SIT ignored his request and issued a second notice, which he said was not legally served and therefore invalid. He said the notice violated his constitutional rights and had no binding authority over him.
He also contended that the Jubilee Hills police did not have jurisdiction to issue notices to him, as he did not reside within their police station limits or those of neighbouring stations. Rao rejected the argument that inquiry could not be conducted at Erravalli based on addresses mentioned in election affidavits or Assembly records, stating that the relevant factor was the place of residence at the time of issuing the notice.
Rao alleged double standards by the police, pointing out that despite BRS leader T. Harish Rao’s affidavit mentioning Siddipet as his address, notices were served on him in Hyderabad. He said pasting a notice on the wall of his Nandi Nagar residence was illegal and reiterated that his statement must be recorded only at Erravalli, as mandated by law.
However, Rao said that irrespective of the legal issues involved, he had decided to cooperate with the inquiry as a former chief minister, Leader of the Opposition and a responsible citizen. He said he would be available at his Nandi Nagar residence at 3 pm on February 1, as the SIT was insisting on recording his statement there.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader in the Legislative Council S. Madhusudhana Chary alleged that the SIT notices were issued as part of political vendetta by the Congress government. Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan, he accused Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of misusing the police machinery ahead of municipal elections and called for protests across Telangana.
Former Telangana employees’ unions chairman Devi Prasad also alleged political vendetta, saying that targeting Rao amounted to insulting Telangana and the spirit of the statehood movement. He criticised the refusal to postpone the inquiry in view of municipal elections.
BRS MLC Shambipur Raju said Rao was ready to face the SIT probe and questioned why officials were reluctant to visit Erravalli. He said the party would ensure cooperation while continuing its agitation on public issues and what it described as misuse of power.
