Hyderabad: How suspended DSP Praneet Rao operated with impunity to monitor people without authorization

Hyderabad: Police have booked suspended DSP Praneet Rao for abuse of power, destruction of evidence, and collusion with unidentified persons.

Praneet Kumar, currently under suspension, has been serving as a CI in the Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) since 2018 and was promoted in 2023. During the investigation, a more startling revelation surfaced about Praneet Kumar, also known as Praneet Rao, a former DSP who worked in the functional verticals department in Rajanna Sirisilla district.

Additional Superintendent of Police of the Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) has filed a complaint against Praneet Kumar and his accomplices for their alleged involvement in these serious offenses.

According to Panjagutta police, a complaint was filed by D. Ramesh, the Additional SP of the SIB. Ramesh, who has been serving in the SIB since 2019, has shed light on the inner workings of the organization, emphasizing its role in gathering intelligence related to Left Wing Extremism (LWE) for the safety and security of the state.

During his tenure, Ramesh became aware of Praneet Kumar's activities within the SIB. Praneet Kumar, who served as an Inspector from 2018 before being promoted to DSP in 2023, allegedly operated with unprecedented autonomy. He reportedly had exclusive access to two rooms within the SIB premises, equipped with 17 computer systems and a dedicated internet connection. Using these resources, he is said to have clandestinely gathered intelligence on unidentified individuals and monitored them without authorization.

The investigation took a concerning turn in 2024 when records, both physical and electronic, began to vanish from the SIB office. Upon inquiry, it was discovered that Praneet Kumar had been illegally copying intelligence information onto personal storage devices, such as pen drives and external disks. In a bid to cover his tracks, he allegedly oversaw the destruction of this information by dismantling computer systems and replacing old hard drives with new ones.

The most egregious aspect of Praneet Kumar's actions came to light on the night of December 4, 2023. During this time, he allegedly disabled CCTV cameras before destroying old hard drives containing vital data, which had been collected over decades. This act, authorities claim, was done in collaboration with others with the intent of personal gain and to obstruct any potential criminal investigation.

Based on the complaint, a case has been registered against Praneet Kumar under section 409, 427, 201, 120 (B) r/w. 34 IPC & Sec. (3) of PDPP Act, 1984, Sec. 65, 66 & 70 of Information Technology Act.