The Former Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Praneeth Rao was questioned for eight hours on Friday (June 13) at the Jubilee Hills ACP office by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), in connection with the illegal phone tapping and destruction of digital evidence.
Sources close to the investigation said that the questioning, which began around 11 a.m. and ended by 8 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break, focused heavily on technical aspects, specifically phone numbers, electronic devices, and the deleted data. Investigators described Mr. Rao as being cooperative, though the evidence in hand, including documents and statements from others, left little room for denial.
Mr. Rao is accused of having destroyed hard disks that allegedly contained key information pertaining to the phone surveillance operation.
Mr. Praneeth Rao was arrested over a year ago, on March 13, 2024, after Panjagutta police detained him from his residence in Rajanna-Sircilla district. The arrest followed a complaint filed by Additional SP D. Ramesh, Mr. Rao’s former superior, who accused him of illegally intercepting calls of prominent political leaders and senior government officials.
Published – June 13, 2025 10:20 pm IST
