DSP Praneeth Rao Held in Phone-Tapping Case Demoted As Inspector
Praneeth Rao was arrested on March 12, 2024 and lodged in jail. A preliminary charge sheet also filed in the case, which is under further investigation
Hyderabad: The State government has demoted the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), D Praneeth Rao, who was arrested in the sensational phone-tapping case, to Inspector rank on charges of committing irregularities and failing to complete the probationary period.
The Director General of Police has informed that Praneeth worked in the Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) from October 24, 2016 till December 13, 2023 as DSP on accelerated promotion. Praneeth has exhibited gross misconduct and violation of legal procedures by utilizing dedicated leased line internet connectivity exclusively for their SOT Team which was under his leadership at the SIB.
He removed and replaced 42 hard disks in systems including desktops and laptops located in his SOT logger room; and erased important data like CDRS, IMEIS and IPDR data of Special Operation targets from the database. He also dismantled HDDs with the help of electrician by switching off all cameras of SIB building, leading to destruction of all wallable data with a criminal intent which is unbecoming of an officer of a disciplined force and violated Rule 3 of TSCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964.
Therefore, the Additional DGP, Intelligence while forwarding report of the DIG, SIB, TG, Hyderabad dated January 17, 2024 has requested to place him under suspension and to initiate disciplinary action. Accordingly, Praneet, DSP, DCRB, Functional Vertical, Rajanna Siricilla and former DSP, SIB was placed under suspension on March 2, 2024.
In addition to initiation of disciplinary proceedings, a criminal case also registered against Praneeth at Panjagutta police station on March 10, 2024 on the complaint of Additional SP, SIB alleging that he undertaken many criminal activities in SIB by preserving the confidential data in his personal devices and to shield the same erased the information and also responsible for disappearance of records on December 4, 2023 by turning off the CCTV cameras unauthorisedly.
He was arrested on March 12, 2024 and lodged in jail and a preliminary charge sheet also filed in the case, which is under further investigation.
The Director General of Police has further submitted that Praneeth Kumar on accelerated promotion as DSP (Civil) has assumed the charge as DSP on March 31, 2023 and was deemed to have been placed on probation for a period of one year with effect from March 31, 2023 which he has to complete in a year.
But, he did not complete his probation period satisfactorily due to his involvement in the criminal case and was arrested, confined to prison from the date of arrest till date and he was also placed under suspension pending initiation of disciplinary proceedings for "exhibiting gross misconduct and violation of legal procedures.
