Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], January 29 : The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Thursday issued a notice to former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to appear for examination in connection with the phone tapping case.
The SIT will question KCR on Friday at his Erravalli farmhouse in Siddipet district. The location for the questioning was requested by KCR's team after the team accepted the notice, according to sources.
Earlier, former minister Harish Rao, BRS Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR), and former BRS MP Santosh Rao were questioned by the SIT at its Jubilee Hills office in connection with the same case.
The case relates to widespread allegations of illegal phone surveillance and interception of media industry bigwigs, retired cops, and politicians during the BRS government tenure. Former DCP P. Radhakrishna Rao alleged that it was done to monitor then-Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao's political rivals.
Speaking to ANI about the notice to KCR, Telangana Jagruthi founder K. Kavitha said the SIT has been "dragging" this issue for the past two years and called for a "transparent" probe.
"SIT has been dragging this issue for the past two years. If the government knew phone tapping had occurred, the investigation should have been more serious, but we have not seen that kind of response. I am sure KCR will give his side of the story. if the investigation is done in a transparent way, then the people who had been subjected to this injustice will be justified," she said.
Earlier, BRS Working President KT Rama Rao appeared before the SIT on Friday.
Hyderabad Police said that relevant aspects of the case were examined and are being analysed in light of the evidence on record.
In a press statement, the Hyderabad police stated that Rama Rao was directed not to contact or influence any witnesses and that he may be summoned again if required.
The police further noted that certain sections of the media and individuals have been circulating misleading and baseless claims suggesting that the phone interceptions were carried out on security grounds and that no illegality was involved.
The Investigating Agency stated that it is not concerned with such false narratives and emphasised that the probe is being conducted strictly in accordance with the law, in a fair and professional manner, according to the release.