Phone-tapping case against Harish Rao transferred to Siddipet

Hyderabad: The phone-tapping case filed by a Congress leader against Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA T Harish Rao has been transferred to Siddipet One Town Police from the Punjagutta Station in Hyderabad.

Gadagoni Chakradhar Goud, the founder of the Farmers First Foundation, filed a complaint on December 1, 2024, alleging that his phone and his wife’s phone had been tapped during the 2023 Assembly election.

Based on his complaint, Panjagutta Police registered Crime Number 1205/2024.

Following the transfer on jurisdictional grounds, Siddipet One Town Police registered a fresh FIR (Crime Number 496/2026) on Saturday, October 31.

The FIR names the Siddipet MLA as the prime accused and former Deputy Commissioner of Police Radhakishan Rao, among others.

Phone tapping case

Investigation in the phone tapping case against Hari Rao was initiated after Goud filed a complaint with the Punjagutta Police, alleging that his phone was tapped by Rao with the involvement of then DCP Radha Kishan Rao. Following the complaint, the police registered a first information report (FIR).

It was part of a larger case where the then BRS government was accused of running a secret intelligence unit to profile over 600 people, including politicians, judges, actors, and other rivals.

Over 1 lakh phone calls were allegedly e tapped. Those who were reportedly monitored included Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress, and even some BRS leaders.

The unit also allegedly used this data to extort crores of rupees from local businessmen. When the government changed, a criminal case was registered, and the officers panicked, destroying 17 hard drives and dumping them into the Musi River to bury the evidence.

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