Telangana Phone-Tapping: Ex-SIB Chief T Prabhakar Rao Confirms Political Surveillance

### Quick Summary
– Former SIB (Special Intelligence Branch) chief T Prabhakar Rao admitted to political surveillance during his tenure and said senior police officials were aware of these operations.
– Rao revealed that a Special Operations Team (SOT) was formed in 2018 under SIB to conduct political surveillance, deviating from the branch’s anti-Naxal mandate.
– Hard disks containing phone tapping data were destroyed in 2023 before the retention period expired, shortly before Congress came to power. Rao did not disclose whether this decision came from higher-ups or involved political leadership.
– Investigators questioned Rao for nine hours on June 12, focusing on his role and evasiveness about surveillance targets; no electronic devices were seized yet.
– Rao had fled to the U.S., but returned after receiving passport protection from arrest via a Supreme Court order on June 8.
– further questioning of deputy superintendent G Praneeth Rao is scheduled for June 13; Prabhakar Rao will face additional interrogation on June 14.

[Read More](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/sib-ex-chief-did-political-snooping-destroyed-hard-discs/articleshow/121787119.cms)

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### Indian Opinion Analysis
The revelations about alleged misuse of the Special Intelligence Branch raise pressing concerns over privacy rights and accountability mechanisms within state intelligence bodies in India. The admission of political monitoring by an agency meant for counter-terrorism highlights potential structural weaknesses that may enable such deviations without sufficient oversight.

the destruction of phone-tapping data ahead of a significant political transition further complicates matters by undermining clarity efforts and fueling suspicions regarding motive-whether institutional or partisan-driven remains undetermined per available details.

While investigators have not yet implicated senior officials or any politicians directly, ensuring a fair probe into possible misuse will be crucial for upholding democratic norms like individual privacy and fostering public trust in governance systems. Continued questioning of key figures like G Praneeth Rao could shed more light on both procedural failings within SIB’s operations and their broader implications.