Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court, on Friday, dismissed the criminal petition filed by retired IPS officer T. Prabhakar Rao, seeking protection from arrest in the ongoing telephone tapping case. Justice J. Sreenivas Rao delivered the verdict, rejecting the plea for anticipatory bail in connection with the case that has made headlines in the state.
Prabhakar Rao, the prime accused in the high-profile telephone tapping case, has been absconding and is currently residing in the United States. His passport was recently revoked by the Union government, and the INTERPOL had issued a red-corner notice seeking his detention. Rao had filed the petition seeking protection from arrest if he were to return to India, stating that he was willing to cooperate with investigators upon his arrival.
The case dates back to December 2023, after the Congress party came to power in Telangana. A complaint was filed with the Punjagutta police in Hyderabad, alleging that certain individuals were being monitored under the orders of powerful politicians during the tenure of the BRS government. This led to the registration of a criminal case and the arrest of four police officers. Based on their confessions, T. Prabhakar Rao, who had held critical positions during the BRS government, was identified as the prime accused.
Rao was serving as the head of the Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) at the time of his superannuation and continued on an extension of service during the tenure of the previous government. The police investigation suggested that he was directly involved in the illegal interception of phone calls and monitoring of communications.
Senior counsel Sidharth Luthra, representing the prosecution, strongly opposed the anticipatory bail plea, stressing the need for interrogation to understand the scope of the phone tapping operation. Public Prosecutor (Home) Palle Nageshwar Rao also supported the state’s stance, emphasizing that the investigation could not move forward without the cooperation of Rao.
On the other hand, Rao’s counsel, Senior Advocate T. Niranjan Reddy, argued that his client was suffering from health issues, including cancer, and sought protection from arrest. However, the bench questioned why Rao, despite his alleged health concerns, had accepted an extension of service and continued working in a critical role after his retirement. They further pointed out that Rao had failed to appear before the investigating officers, despite his prolonged service in the police department.
This dismissal has intensified the legal battle for Prabhakar Rao, who remains a fugitive from justice. Meanwhile, his alleged associate, media person Shravan Kumar Rao, who was also implicated in the case, returned to India after securing an order from the Supreme Court that granted him immunity from arrest.
With the legal proceedings ongoing, the telephone tapping case continues to capture the attention of the public, as both political and legal ramifications unfold.
