KTR questioned for over 8 hours in phone tapping case

Hyderabad: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged illegal phone-tapping case questioned former minister and BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao (KTR) for over eight hours on Friday, focusing on suspected financial flows to the party, including through electoral bonds, as the investigation moved into a critical phase.

No joint interrogation with key accused

The SIT dismissed reports that KTR was confronted with former deputy commissioner of police (Task Force) P. Radha Kishan Rao. Officials clarified that while Kishan Rao was asked to be available, no joint questioning was conducted as investigators felt there was no immediate requirement for confrontation.

KTR later remarked that there were “no other Raos except K.T. Rama Rao” present during the inquiry.

Alleged surveillance target lists examined

Sources said investigators questioned KTR on allegations that senior officials of the then BRS administration had provided lists of phone numbers belonging to BRS and non-BRS politicians, businesspersons and celebrities for surveillance.

KTR countered by asking officials to name the film actresses whose phones he was accused of ordering to be tapped, stating that the SIT had “no answers.” Officials also told him that they had not leaked any information to the media linking him with actresses.

Call detail records and Electoral Bond Trail

According to sources, KTR also denied knowledge of certain businesspersons but remained silent when investigators produced call detail records (CDRs).

The SIT, sources said, confronted him with data relating to electoral bond purchases by businesspeople, along with timelines and CDRs leading up to those transactions, claiming progress in connecting missing links in the case.

Arrival amid supporters, asked to avoid politics

Earlier in the day, KTR arrived at the Jubilee Hills ACP office, from where the SIT is operating, amid a heavy presence of party supporters.

He was accompanied by former ministers T. Harish Rao and T. Srinivas Yadav.

Sources said that when KTR attempted to question investigators and make political remarks, an officer politely asked him to cooperate with the inquiry and refrain from political commentary.

Election-time raids under scrutiny

Investigators are also examining inputs suggesting that during general elections and by-polls held when the BRS was in power, Radha Kishan Rao, then heading the commissioner’s task force, was allegedly guided by KTR through calls and messages.

During that period, task force teams conducted raids at the residences of businesspersons and political leaders, sources added.

KTR calls probe a ‘Diversion’

Addressing the media after the questioning, Rama Rao criticised the Congress-led Telangana government, terming the SIT inquiry a “calculated diversion” to mask governance failures and unfulfilled election promises.

He said he had fully cooperated with the SIT during the nearly seven-and-a-half-hour session but alleged that the questioning lacked substance, claiming officials merely read out hundreds of names without producing concrete evidence.

Allegations of leaks and continued surveillance

KTR alleged that the SIT failed to explain who was responsible for repeated “leaks” to the media that, according to him, were aimed at maligning BRS leaders and their families over the past two years.

He further claimed that the practice of phone tapping had not ended under the current government and cited reports of a sitting minister expressing an inability to speak freely due to alleged surveillance.

Questions on Selective Probes

Targeting the ruling Congress, KTR questioned why SITs had not been constituted to probe what he described as serious corruption allegations involving the government, including an alleged Rs 300-crore extortion attempt, land-grabbing accusations against a minister’s family member, and the awarding of AMRUT scheme tenders to the Chief Minister’s brother-in-law.

‘Not Afraid of Notices’

Rejecting claims of evasion, Rama Rao said the BRS was a law-abiding party and not intimidated by police notices or political vendetta. He pointed out that neither he nor senior leader T. Harish Rao sought court stays or extensions and appeared before the SIT immediately upon being summoned.

Call to focus on Governance

Concluding his remarks, Rama Rao urged the government to abandon what he termed “diversionary politics” and focus on governance.

Accusing the Congress of failing to deliver on its election promises, he said the BRS would continue to highlight what it called the government’s shortcomings.