KT Rama Rao Faces Intensive SIT Interrogation in Phone Tapping Scandal
In a significant development in the ongoing phone tapping investigation, Bharath Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao was extensively questioned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Hyderabad on Friday. Following an exhaustive enquiry session that spanned over eight hours, the SIT issued strict instructions to KTR, prohibiting him from contacting or influencing any witnesses related to the case. Authorities also indicated that he might be summoned again as the probe progresses.
Background of the Phone Tapping Case
The Telangana government established a 10-member SIT, led by Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar, nearly 21 months after the phone tapping case was officially registered. This case revolves around serious allegations that phones were illegally intercepted through the Special Intelligence Branch, purportedly to benefit the Bharat Rashtra Samithi during its tenure in power.
Former DCP P Radhakrishna Rao has previously claimed that surveillance targeted prominent media personalities, retired police officers, and politicians. According to his allegations, this monitoring was conducted to keep tabs on political rivals of then Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. Furthermore, during the 2023 assembly elections, officers allegedly intercepted communications of various political leaders, businessmen, and Tollywood celebrities.
KTR's Response and Allegations
After the lengthy interrogation, KT Rama Rao stated that he fully cooperated with the SIT but described the exercise as repetitive and lacking substantive evidence. He alleged that officials merely read out hundreds of names without presenting any concrete proof to support the claims. KTR has been vocal in his criticism of the Congress government, particularly targeting Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, labeling the SIT probe as a "time-pass" activity.
He accused the government of orchestrating a series of "dramas," including what he termed the Kaleshwaram drama, the Sheep Scam drama, the Formula E drama, and the phone tapping drama. Asserting his innocence, KTR maintained that he has never been involved in any illegal or unjust activities, stating, "I say this with my conscience as witness."
Political Protests and Reactions
Earlier in the day, BRS workers staged a protest near the Jubilee Hills police station as KTR arrived for his SIT interrogation. Party workers surrounded his car, expressing their anger over the SIT notice and sloganeering against Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. This protest highlights the political tensions surrounding the case, with BRS leaders, including senior figure T Harish Rao who was summoned earlier, consistently criticizing the investigation as politically motivated.
The phone tapping scandal continues to unfold, with the SIT's actions drawing significant attention and sparking debates about political surveillance and accountability in Telangana.
