In a significant development in the politically sensitive phone tapping case, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has formally served a notice to former chief minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president K Chandrasekhar Rao. The notice directs him to appear before investigators at 3 pm on January 30 for questioning.
Accommodations for Senior Leader
Considering his age, the investigative authorities have extended a courtesy to KCR. The notice, issued by investigation officer K Venkatagiri, explicitly states that due to him being above 65 years of age, he is not compulsorily required to attend the police station under Section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). He has been offered the option to either appear at the Jubilee Hills police station or choose any other convenient location within Hyderabad for the examination.
Rationale Behind the Summons
The official notice clarifies that the ongoing probe has established that K Chandrasekhar Rao is "acquainted with facts and circumstances relevant to the case". Consequently, his examination has been deemed necessary and required for the purpose of further investigation. This move ends days of intense speculation and brings the investigative focus squarely onto the former chief minister.
Context and Recent Developments
This notice to the BRS supremo follows a series of interrogations conducted by the SIT over the past ten days. Senior BRS leaders, including working president K T Rama Rao, Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao, and former Rajya Sabha MP J Santhosh Kumar, have already been examined as witnesses in connection with this high-profile case.
Origins of the Phone Tapping Case
The case has its roots in March 2024, a few months after the Congress party assumed office in Telangana. It was initiated based on a complaint filed by the Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration) of the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB). The Hyderabad police subsequently registered a criminal case alleging widespread illegal phone surveillance during the tenure of the previous BRS government.
The initial complaint accused former SIB DSP D Praneeth Rao of destroying hard disks and other sensitive electronic equipment immediately after the BRS lost the December 2023 state assembly elections.
Accused Persons and Allegations
Following the investigation, six individuals were named as accused in the case:
- Then SIB chief T Prabhakar Rao
- D Praneeth Rao
- Intelligence wing additional SPs N Bhujanga Rao and M Thirupathanna
- Former task force DCP P Radhakishan Rao
- A Sravan Kumar Rao, a senior executive of a vernacular television channel
They face charges of illegally intercepting the phones of opposition members, businessmen, and other individuals during the BRS administration. With the exception of Prabhakar Rao and Sravan Kumar, the remaining accused were arrested and later released on bail.
Scale of Alleged Surveillance
The scope of the alleged illegal surveillance was extensive. Among those reportedly monitored were:
- Present Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and his family members
- Senior BJP member Eatala Rajender
- Union Minister Bandi Sanjay
- Medak MP M Raghunandan Rao
- Several other politicians
Formation of the Special Investigation Team
To expedite the investigation, the state government constituted a nine-member Special Investigation Team in the last week of December 2025. The SIT is headed by Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar, underscoring the seriousness with which the authorities are treating this case.
The summoning of K Chandrasekhar Rao marks a pivotal moment in this investigation, potentially unlocking further details about the alleged phone tapping operations that have sent shockwaves through Telangana's political landscape.
