SIT questions KCR for five hours in phone tapping probe; BRS calls notices ‘vindictive’
HYDERABAD: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Sunday questioned former chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao for nearly five hours in connection with the alleged phone tapping case, amid tight security at his Nandi Nagar residence in Banjara Hills.
The questioning began around 15.00 IST and concluded close to 20.00 IST, SIT officials said in a brief statement. A large police deployment sealed lanes and bylanes around the residence through the day, with fire engines kept on standby amid apprehensions of protests.
What the SIT asked
SIT officers, led by joint commissioner of police (Special Branch) S M Vijay Kumar, questioned Rao on the rules governing the destruction of material linked to phone tapping, sources said. The team also sought an explanation on why T Prabhakar Rao was retained as chief of the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) even after retirement during the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government’s tenure.
Prabhakar Rao was named the prime accused by Hyderabad police in 2024 after the Congress assumed power in the state.
Security and political presence
Senior BRS leaders, including working president K T Rama Rao and former minister Harish Rao, were present at the residence during the questioning. A sizeable crowd of party supporters gathered outside, though there were no reported incidents.
After the interrogation, K Chandrashekhar Rao briefly appeared on the balcony with party leaders to acknowledge supporters.
Notice and venue dispute
Rao was initially served a notice to appear before the SIT on January 29. The appearance was rescheduled to February 1 after he sought additional time and requested that the questioning be conducted at his Erravalli farmhouse, about 65 km from Hyderabad. The SIT declined the request and directed him to be present at the Nandi Nagar address listed in his affidavit.
SIT officials arrived at the residence around 14.45 IST in multiple vehicles carrying investigation material, and commenced questioning shortly thereafter.
BRS response
The BRS described the SIT notices to its party president as “vindictive politics,” reiterating that the party would cooperate with the investigation while contesting what it termed as political targeting.
