From Farmhouse to Face-Off: KCR's Reluctant Agreement to Hyderabad Questioning
After a tense standoff over the location for his interrogation, former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao finally arrived at his Nandi Nagar residence in Hyderabad to face questioning by the Special Investigation Team. The probe centers on allegations of illegal phone surveillance during his tenure, marking a significant development in the ongoing investigation.
BRS Supporters Mobilize Amid Political Drama
The journey from KCR's Erravalli farmhouse in Siddipet to his Hyderabad residence transformed into a political spectacle, with roads lined by enthusiastic Bharat Rashtra Samithi supporters chanting 'Jai Telangana' slogans. BRS leaders and workers mobilized in substantial numbers to demonstrate solidarity as their leader prepared to confront the SIT investigation.
Several instances of effigy burning occurred along the route, while numerous BRS workers claimed they were detained by police while attempting to reach the Nandi Nagar residence. The former chief minister's official residence became surrounded by vocal supporters expressing their allegiance through continuous slogan-shouting.
Security Measures and Arrival Details
Despite traveling in a convoy of private vehicles, Hyderabad police permitted only KCR's vehicle and security detail to enter the residence premises. Authorities erected barricades on all four sides of the property to prevent unauthorized access and maintain public order during this sensitive proceeding.
KCR reached his Nandi Nagar residence at 1 pm, where his son and BRS working president KT Rama Rao, along with other supporters, welcomed him. The SIT questioning was scheduled for 3 pm on Sunday, February 1, 2026, bringing closure to the venue dispute between Telangana police and the former chief minister.
The Venue Dispute Resolution
This appearance concludes what had become a tug-of-war regarding the appropriate location for KCR's testimony. When initially summoned on Thursday, the former chief minister had requested that his statement be recorded at his current residence—the farmhouse in Siddipet district—and on a date convenient to him.
In response, the SIT issued a second notice, physically pasting it on the compound wall of KCR's official residence, insisting he appear at his "residence on record" in Hyderabad's Nandi Nagar area. The investigative team demanded his presence at 3 pm on February 1, to which KCR ultimately agreed, though with evident reluctance.
Legal Objections and Conditional Compliance
In his formal reply to the SIT, KCR raised significant legal objections to the notice delivery method. He wrote, "From the legal provisions and judgements of the honourable Supreme Court of India and various High courts, it is clear that pasting of the letter dated January 30 on the compound wall of the house in Nandi Nagar is no notice in the eye of the law and the same is contrary to provisions of section 62 of CrPC... You have no jurisdiction and authority to issue notice to me for the purpose of recording my statement."
Despite these legal reservations, the former chief minister demonstrated conditional compliance, stating, "Notwithstanding the above legal position, I, being a former Chief Minister for the State of Telangana and the present Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, and also as a responsible citizen of this country, in order to assist the department in the investigation of the subject crime, I would be available for my examination at 3 pm on 01.02.2026 at Nandi Nagar residence as you are keen to record my statement there only."
Background of the Phone-Tapping Case
The investigation pertains to serious allegations that phones belonging to political rivals of the BRS were illegally tapped while the party held power in Telangana. The expanding probe has implicated several high-profile individuals, including:
- Special Intelligence Branch chief and IPS officer T Prabhakar Rao
- Deputy Superintendent of Police D Praneeth Rao
- Additional Superintendents of Police M Thirupathanna and N Bhujanga Rao
- Former Superintendent of Police P Radhakishan Rao
- TV channel owner A Shravan Kumar Rao
Widening Investigation Scope
SIT sources have previously claimed they possess evidence indicating that at least 600 phone numbers tapped by the SIB under Prabhakar Rao's leadership were unrelated to Left Wing Extremism—the original mandate for which the intelligence unit was established in 1990 to monitor activities of the Communist Party of India (Maoist).
The investigation has reportedly expanded beyond phone surveillance to include alleged illegal access to call data records and internet protocol data records belonging to thousands of individuals. The SIT, headed by Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar, continues to pursue multiple angles in this complex case that touches upon privacy rights, political surveillance, and institutional accountability.
This development represents a crucial moment in Telangana's political landscape, as a former chief minister submits to questioning about surveillance activities that allegedly occurred during his administration. The outcome of this interrogation could have significant implications for ongoing investigations and future political dynamics in the state.
