Phone tapping case: 2 Addl SPs arrested for snooping on Revanth Reddy, family

HYDERABAD: Police investigating the phone tapping case of DSP D Praneeth Rao have found key evidence on the role played by ex-intelligence chief Prabhakar Rao and Hyderabad city ex-task force DCP Radha Kishan Rao. Both the former officers are absconding and are said to have left the country for the USA. Police have issued a lookout notice in the name of Prabhakar Rao and Radha Kishan.

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The Panjagutta police included the names of both these officers in the FIR. Police said that Praneeth Rao undertook tapping phones only after these officers asked him to do so. Praneeth Rao in turn used to send the information he had collected to Prabhakar Rao. The two officers used to give details of the people particularly high-profile politicians and businesspersons whose numbers were to be tapped to Praneeth Rao.

The ex-intelligence chief got the phones of the then TPCC chief Revanth Reddy and his close associates and relatives through Praneeth Rao. Praneeth Rao in turn kept his word and reported back all the information he had collected to the ex-intelligence chief.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, the Panjagutta police said that the investigation into the phone tapping case was in progress. Police arrested Thirupathanna, Addl DCP, CSW, Hyderabad City Police, formerly Addl SP, SIB and N Bhujanga Rao, Addl SP, Bhupalapally, formerly Addl SP, Intelligence Department in connection with the phone tapping case.

During the questioning, the above two police officers confessed to their involvement in the reported crimes including conspiracy to monitor private persons illegally by developing their profiles and abusing their official positions. They also caused the disappearance of evidence by destroying public property to conceal their involvement in collusion with the already arrested D Praneeth Kumar (under suspension), formerly working in SIB, and some other persons.

The police produced both the arrested persons before the Court as per procedure for judicial custody.