SIT Relies on Phone Data as Prabhakar Rao Stays Silent in Phone Tapping Case
The SIT also sought to know from Rao the details of the person who formatted his mobile phone when he was in the US
Hyderabad: With former SIB chief T. Prabhakar Rao remaining tight-lipped on the unauthorised phone tapping case, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) is focusing on acquiring technical evidence to nail the kingpin in the case.
Adopting an old school technique, sources said the officials were asking the same question several times to catch Rao out if he gave different replies. The SIT’s technical team has recovered Rao’s mobile, which he reportedly used to pass instructions about phone tapping.
Before leaving for the US on January 3, 2024, Rao had forgotten to take his mobile phone with him. The phone was recovered by the SIT from his house at Jubilee Hills in April, police sources disclosed.
The SIT also sought to know from Rao the details of the person who formatted his mobile phone when he was in the US. FSL reports also confirmed that Rao’s phone that was used in the case was formatted.
A senior officer asked Rao, “If you have not done anything illegal, what was the need to format the data from your mobile and who instructed you to format it and when did you do it.”
The SIT also questioned Rao based on the data they retrieved from the IP server on WhatsApp calls, chats. The officials informed Rao that they have gathered strong evidence against him and he would land if he did not cooperate with them.
The former SIB chief, however, refused to cooperate with the investigators and did not answer their queries.
The Kukatpallly police, meanwhile, filed a chargesheet on Tuesday against retired task force DCP B. Radhakrishna for alleged kidnap and extortion of a businessman.
