Phone-tapping probe reaches top rung as SIT summons KCR

Hyderabad: Telangana's former chief minister and BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao has been served a notice by the SIT probing the phone tapping case to appear before investigators at 3 pm on Jan 30 for questioning, reports Srinath Vudali. Considering his age, the investigators offered KCR the option to either appear at the Jubilee Hills police station or choose any other location within Hyderabad for questioning. "As you are above the age of 65 years, and in strict compliance with the provisions of section 160 of CrPC, you are not required to attend the police station compulsorily," investigation officer K Venkatagiri stated.The notice said the probe so far had found KCR was "acquainted with facts and circumstances relevant to the case", and his examination was therefore "necessary and required for the purpose of further investigation".The case dates back to March 2024, a few months after Congress assumed office in Telangana. Acting on a complaint by the additional SP (administration) of Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB), Hyderabad police registered a criminal case alleging phone surveillance during the previous BRS govt. The complaint accused then SIB DSP D Praneeth Rao of destroying hard disks and other sensitive gadgets after BRS lost the Dec 2023 assembly elections.