SC Orders Ex-Telangana SIB Chief Rao to Share iCloud Password

New Delhi:The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed former SIB chief T. Prabhakar Rao, prime accused in the phone-tapping case, to provide access credentials to his old iCloud account and other back-ups to the special investigation team (SIT) probing the case. Prabhakar Rao had been claiming that he had forgotten the password as it was set long back.

On Tuesday, counsel for the state brought the issue of access to Prabhakar Rao’s to the notice of the Supreme Court, which was hearing an interim application filed by the government seeking to vacate the earlier interim protection granted to the ex-official. The bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan directed that as and when Prabhakar Rao was summoned by the SIT, he shall take steps to reset and activate the password in the presence of forensic experts.

The court observed that it would take a decision later if any of the data was found deleted from his iCloud accounts. The bench extended the protection from arrest granted to Rao until the next date of hearing on November 18.

In the interim application, the government sought the Supreme Court to vacate the earlier interim protection from arrest granted to Rao in May 2025, on the ground that he was not cooperating with the investigation and was maintaining silence to the SIT’s questions. The second prayer of the state sought directions compelling Rao to provide the correct ID and password for his iCloud and other back-ups, details of devices or drives used for back-up prior to formatting, and related information sought by the investigation agency.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state, alleged that there was no progress in the investigation due to the non-cooperation of the accused. He submitted that Rao had formatted his electronic devices and destroyed crucial evidence even while under the protective orders of the court.

The Soliticor General stated that the facts were “shocking” and that the forensic laboratory report confirmed the formatting of the devices, rendering them “as good as new.” He submitted that Rao had purchased several hard disks to back up data but later claimed he had none, and that custodial interrogation was required to recover the truth.

Senior advocate Dama Sheshadri Naidu, representing Rao, denied the allegations, and asserted that his client had cooperated with the investigation. He submitted that Rao had appeared before the authorities 11 times and was questioned for nearly 18 hours, all of which was video-recorded. Naidu said that his client had forgotten the password to his old iCloud account but was ready to reset it in the presence of forensic experts. He explained that the formatting of devices was part of a departmental protocol followed to delete sensitive official data. Naidu alleged that the investigation was politically motivated and said, “The CM has said that I will be put behind bars. It is their dream.”

The Bench took serious note of submissions that certain MPs and MLAs were present during Rao’s interrogation and remarked, “It cannot be a tamasha! How can MPs and MLAs come and interrogate? They cannot be spectators or part of the investigation.” The Solicitor General assured the Bench that he would file an affidavit on this aspect.

The court, while noting the arguments of both sides, questioned the integrity of the devices and the deletion of data, observing that the entire allegation revolved around the destruction of digital evidence. Justice Mahadevan questioned that Rao alone had access to the iCloud account and questioned, “What is the guarantee that you have not deleted anything from it as of now?” Rao’s counsel Naidu replied that all activity logs could be verified by experts, as “electronic footprints will be there.”