BRS Leader KT Rama Rao Appears Before SIT in Hyderabad Phone-Tapping Investigation

BRS Working President and former municipal administration and IT Minister K T Rama Rao appeared before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Friday in connection with the alleged phone-tapping case, becoming the second senior leader from the party to face questioning after former minister T Harish Rao.

According to official sources, Rama Rao was questioned at the Jubilee Hills police station alongside Radha Kishan Rao, a former Deputy Commissioner of Police (Task Force) who is an accused in the case. Investigators are reportedly focusing on the financial aspects of the alleged surveillance operation carried out during the BRS government prior to December 2023.

Sources said the SIT is probing claims that party leaders had provided funds for procuring sophisticated equipment allegedly used to tap the phones of judges, politicians and journalists. Individuals who appeared before the SIT earlier are said to have made statements linking party funds to the alleged operation, which is now under detailed scrutiny.

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Before appearing for questioning, Rama Rao strongly denied any wrongdoing and accused the police and the ruling Congress government of attempting to damage his reputation. “Swearing by the land of our birth, I affirm that I have not engaged in any illegal or unethical activities,” he told reporters, warning that those indulging in what he termed character assassination would face consequences when the BRS returns to power.

Rama Rao also alleged that over the past two years, false and defamatory stories had been circulated about him, causing distress to his family. He questioned who would take responsibility for what he described as deliberate leaks and fabricated allegations under the pretext of the phone-tapping probe and asked whether phone surveillance had ceased under the present Congress government.

Meanwhile, political reactions continued to intensify, with TPCC chief B Mahesh Kumar reiterating allegations that the phones of then TPCC chief and current Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy were tapped during the BRS regime. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay questioned the SIT’s focus on Rama Rao, while high drama unfolded at the BRS headquarters as police restricted party workers from marching towards the Jubilee Hills police station in a show of support for the leader.

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