Former SIB chief grilled for hours, evasive on key evidence regarding his role in phone tapping case

Former Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) chief of Telangana T Prabhakar Rao arrives for the second time at Jubilee Hills police station for questioning in connection with the alleged phone-tapping case in Hyderabad on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Former Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) chief T. Prabhakar Rao, the prime accused in the high-profile phone tapping case, was grilled for nearly seven hours by investigators on Wednesday, June 11. Officials said he remained evasive during questioning, particularly when confronted with evidence directly linking him to the surveillance operations.

Rao, who appeared before the West Zone police for the second time since his return to India, was questioned from 11.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. “He is being deliberately vague wherever evidence goes against him,” an official familiar with the probe said. Investigators reportedly focused on certain sensitive topics during the latest round of questioning and are expected to continue with political surveillance-related aspects during his next appearance on June 14.

The former intelligence chief had landed in Hyderabad on Sunday after months abroad. He had been citing ill health to stay in the United States, despite a case being registered against him by Punjagutta police over a year ago. His return followed a Supreme Court directive offering him protection from arrest, provided he appeared before the investigating officer within three days of receiving his travel documents.

The scandal broke open with the arrest of former SIB DSP Praneeth Rao on March 13, 2024. He was picked up from his residence in Rajanna-Sircilla district after his superior, Additional SP D. Ramesh, filed a complaint alleging that Rao had unlawfully intercepted phone calls of several political leaders and senior officials.

Published - June 12, 2025 12:07 am IST