Archive · 22 Dec 2025
Ex-SIB Chief Misled Committee for Phone Tapping
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Hyderabad is looking into a big phone-tapping case.
They say the former head of the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB), T. Prabhakar Rao, tricked the committee that approves phone tapping.
He told them the numbers belonged to terrorists and Maoists, but actually, he tapped phones of politicians, business people, actors, judges, and media persons.
The committee approved tapping 690 numbers, but Prabhakar Rao and his team tapped about 1,700 numbers.
The SIT is questioning many high-ranking officials to find out who gave the orders and who was involved.
Prabhakar Rao says he followed orders from his seniors and got approval, but the SIT thinks he lied to the committee.
They are trying to find out the truth and file a chargesheet soon.
SIT alleges T. Prabhakar Rao misled the review committee by misreporting phone numbers for tapping.
Prabhakar Rao tapped phones of politicians, business persons, actors, judges, and media persons, claiming they were terror and Maoist suspects.
The review committee approved 690 numbers, but Prabhakar Rao's team tapped approximately 1,700 numbers.
SIT questioned former chief secretary Shanti Kumari, Somesh Kumar, M. Raghunandan Rao, and Naveen Chand as witnesses.
Prabhakar Rao claims he acted on senior officers' directions and received approval from the review committee.
- Who
- Former SIB chief T. Prabhakar Rao and other accused individuals
- What
- SIT investigating phone-tapping case, alleging deception by Prabhakar Rao
- When
- Extended custody ends on December 26
- Where
- Hyderabad, India
- Why
- To uncover the extent of phone-tapping and identify those responsible
Prabhakar Rao's Defense
SIT's Investigation
Approval for Phone Tapping
Prabhakar Rao's Defense
Prabhakar Rao claims he acted on senior officers' directions and received approval from the review committee.
SIT's Investigation
The SIT contends that Prabhakar Rao misled the review committee by misreporting phone numbers.
- Accused
- T. Prabhakar Rao, G. Praneeth Rao, B. Radha Kishan Rao, N. Bhujanga Rao, M. Thirupatanna
- SIT Head
- V.C. Sajjanar
- Custody End Date
- December 26
- Questioning Location
- Central Crime Station (CCS)
- Evidence Recovered
- Details of phone-tapping war room, attempted destruction of gadgets and storage devices
- Approved Numbers
- 690
- Actual Numbers Tapped
- 1,700
- Witnesses Questioned
- Shanti Kumari, Somesh Kumar, M. Raghunandan Rao, Naveen Chand
