Phone Tapping: SIT Grills KCR, Shows Confession Videos
Armed with questions prepared with the legal experts, the SIT team came to KCR’s house a few minutes before the scheduled time and started grilling from 3 pm
Hyderabad: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) grilled BRS president and former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao for over four and a half hours at his house in Nandinagar, Banjara Hills, in the phone-tapping case on Sunday.
Sources said the SIT showed Chandrashekar Rao videos and confession statements of some of the accused and those called as witness, primarily his nephew and former BRS MP Joginpally Santosh Kumar.
Sources said the former CM was reluctant to watch the videos and sought to dismiss the case as of no significance. “He, however, seemed to have understood the gravity as the questioning went on,” said a senior official.
Sources noted the sharp contrast between how Chandrashekar Rao handled the questioning as against those who preceded him, like his son and BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao, saying that the former chief minister maintained composure and didn’t resort to counterattacks or political rhetoric.
The SIT questioned Chandrashekar Rao directly and also referred to technical and documentary evidence, with the inquiry also delving into details relating to the re-recruitment of T. Prabhakar Rao as SIB chief.
The questions were largely based on statements recorded earlier from other individuals examined in the case. The SIT later cross-verified Chandrashekar Rao’s responses with the evidence on record as the inquiry progressed.
He was also confronted with the statements made by Prabhakar Rao, and former officials Radhakishan Rao, N. Bhujanga Rao, Praneeth Rao and M. Tiruputanna. A SIT officer sought explanations from Chandrashekar Rao on the reasons behind the alleged phone tapping.
After recording his statement, the SIT left with two trunk boxes, many files and electronic items.
Earlier, armed with questions prepared with the legal experts and senior police officers, the SIT had reached Chandrashekar Rao’s house a few minutes before the scheduled time and started the questioning from 3.10 pm. The questioning was completed by 7.40 pm.
City police commissioner V.C. Sajjannar announced that he would not participate in questioning but was monitoring the investigation. At 10.37 pm, Sajjanar announced in a post on his X handle that the questioning had been completed.
The SIT team included senior officials Ambar Kishore Jha, Tasweer Ahmed, S.M. Vijay Kumar, Rituraj, K. Narayan Reddy, M. Ravinder Reddy, K.S. Rao while Jubilee Hills ACP P. Venkatgari, investigation officer, questioned Chandrashekar Rao.
The questioning was held on the second floor of the residence SIT officials made it clear that legal counsel would not be permitted during the examination.
Before the questioning began, the SIT asked BRS leader T. Harish Rao and others to vacate the premises.
Police said they had deployed seven drones to ensure security around the former CM’s residence. Over 470 police personnel from city law and order, traffic, Armed Reserve, Quick Reaction Team (QRT), Traffic, Special Branch, political intelligence cell and task force were deployed in a 1.5-radius of the house. Five lanes including the road connecting to ICCC at Agrasen Circle were barricaded. Additional police officials were posted at the BRS office in Banjara Hills.
