Phone Tapping Case: SIT Summons KTR After Harish Rao Questioning

The phone tapping controversy in Telangana has flared up again, with the investigation taking a major turn after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) issued notices to former minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) . The SIT has asked KTR to appear for questioning at 11 am on Friday at the Jubilee Hills police station , marking a significant escalation in a case that has already triggered intense political debate across the state.

The SIT’s move comes soon after it questioned former minister T Harish Rao for nearly 7–8 hours as part of the same probe. Investigators have reportedly warned that no witnesses connected to the case should be contacted or influenced in any manner, and sources indicate Harish Rao may be summoned again for a second round of interrogation. The case, involving allegations of illegal surveillance and unauthorised interception of phones, has been under investigation since March 10, 2024 , and officials have already filed charge sheets against some accused, while continuing to dig deeper for the alleged masterminds behind the operation.

Fresh reporting adds important context to the latest SIT action. In one of the most striking revelations, reports claim investigators told Harish Rao that even his phone was tapped during the previous regime, suggesting the alleged surveillance network may have been wider than previously understood. The probe is also being strengthened through statements by accused officials and technical evidence. Media reports indicate that several police officers have allegedly admitted to phone tapping on instructions from former Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) chief T Prabhakar Rao , who is widely considered a prime accused in the case. Investigators are also said to have examined hundreds of affected individuals to establish patterns of misuse of surveillance mechanisms.

A key legal development shaping the investigation is the Supreme Court’s decision to extend interim protection from arrest to T Prabhakar Rao till March 10, 2026 . This is significant because the former SIB chief is seen as central to the alleged tapping system, and his legal status could influence the pace and direction of custodial questioning and evidence collection. Meanwhile, the SIT appears to be moving beyond operational-level inquiry toward questions of authorisation, intent, and whether surveillance activities had political direction or benefited certain individuals or groups.