Speaking to the media after his deposition, Jaipal Yadav confirmed his mobile phone had been seized earlier. He claimed his interactions with Tirupatanna, a close relative, were personal in nature.
Hyderabad:The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the phone-tapping case questioned former BRS legislator G Jaipal Yadav and former BRS MLC K. Chirumurthi Lingiah, in presence of former ASP M. Tirupatanna, an accused in the case, for over two hours separately.
During the interrogation, investigators confronted the two politicians with Thirupatanna to cross-verify their versions of the clandestine operations. Sources disclosed that the probe had unearthed evidence suggesting Yadav provided at least two private phone numbers to the SIB for illegal monitoring.
SIT is scrutinising Call Detail Records (CDRs) and Source Data Records (SDRs) to determine if this surveillance was part of the notorious "RR Module" designed to shadow the then-opposition leader and current Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
Speaking to the media after his deposition, Jaipal Yadav confirmed his mobile phone had been seized earlier. He claimed his interactions with Tirupatanna, a close relative, were personal in nature.
“I frequently spoke to him to resolve domestic disputes and marital issues of certain individuals. The SIT has recorded my statement regarding these calls,” Yadav said, adding that the additional SP had specifically requested the contact details of two private individuals from him.
The investigation has gained significant momentum ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on January 16 regarding the anticipatory bail petition of the prime accused and former SIB chief, T. Prabhakar Rao.
While Jaipal Yadav maintained that his 40-year political career remained unblemished, the SIT is continuing its technical analysis to identify more "political masters" behind the mass surveillance and subsequent destruction of digital evidence.
Tirupatanna disclosed before SIT that he had received two mobile numbers from Yadav’s PA, which he sent to SIB. “My statement was earlier recorded by SIT, I have nothing to do with the phone tapping. I was not called again for the investigation. I will cooperate with the investigation by SIT officials.
According to the SIT, the "RR Module" was a sophisticated surveillance system supervised by then DSP D. Praneeth Rao. The unit reportedly tracked the families, relatives, and followers of Revanth Reddy during the 2023 elections. Investigators found that a 20-strong team monitored communications around the clock.
The probe revealed that the SIB had set up temporary "listening posts" disguised as bathrooms near the residences of Revanth Reddy and his brother A. Kondal Reddy, equipped with state-of-the-art tapping devices. The surveillance was not limited to politicians; the SIT reports indicate that film personalities, businessmen, builders, and realtors were also targeted at the SIB headquarters.
