Telangana snooping case: Ex-DCP 'confesses' phone tapping of those who posed threat to BRS govt, say reports

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India Express cited sources as saying that Radhakishan Rao admitted to his involvement in conducting surveillance on politicians and others under the directions of the then Telangana Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) chief T Prabhakar Rao.Meanwhile, NDTV reported that Rao claimed devices belonging to media "industry bigwigs, retired cops, and politicians [including from then-ruling BRS] were hacked and monitored".

This allegedly happene before the November state election “to keep tabs on then Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's political rivals".ALSO READ: Congress claims Rahul Gandhi being spied on; police say visit routine exerciseThe former DCP of the Commissioner's Task Force, a wing of Hyderabad Police, was arrested on March 29 by the city police in connection with the case of phone tapping and destroying certain computer systems and official data.Rao reportedly informed investigators that anyone who voiced criticism of the BRS government or who was seen as a potential threat to the party was subjected to heavy electronic monitoring.Sources said former SIB deputy Superintendent of Police D Praneeth Rao was provided with "information about political leaders – both within BRS and in the opposition – who needed to be put under surveillance"."He [Praneeth Rao] would allegedly profile them and lead an extensive operation to tap their phones so they can be kept under watch at all times," the Indian Express reported.ALSO READ: Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BRS, BSP decide seat-sharing deal in TelanganaSources further said that after finding that many individuals had switched to using encrypted platforms like WhatsApp or Snapchat for communication, the then SIB chief Prabhakar Rao allegedly directed the team to track calls