Former Deputy Commissioner of Police Radha Kishan Rao has claimed that Former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao wanted the arrest of BJP National General Secretary BL Santhosh to get rid of (ED) Enforcement Directorate’s probe against daughter Kavitha. Rao is an accused in the phone-tapping scandal was arrested in March this year as a part of the ongoing probe in connection with the phone-tapping case and destroying certain computer systems and official data.
The former DCP has admitted to his involvement in the phone-tapping case, according to a confession made to the Hyderabad Police. He alleged that ‘Peddayana’ — an indirect reference to KCR — wanted the arrest of BL Santhosh in connection with the case of an alleged attempt to poach his party MLAs.
Rao claimed that the attempt was to force the BJP into a agreement to get rid of the ED case against the chief minister’s daughter K Kavitha. BRS leader Kavitha was arrested in March by the ED for her alleged involvement in the Delhi liquor scam case.
As per India Today, the confession report said “Later, the SIT was formed and KCR wanted the arrest of BL Santosh, BJP national level leader, to make the case strong so that BJP would come for a compromise, and it can be used to get rid of the ED case on his daughter MLC Kavitha.”
The former DCP said, “However, due to the inefficiency of some Cyberabad police officers in Kerala, one important person escaped police apprehension… The case went to the High Court where no arrest orders were issued, and then the SIT case was transferred to CBI.” He added that ‘Peddayana’ was “very angry for not completing the work as per his expectations.”
Radha Kishan Rao said his confession that the extensive phone-tapping operation was directed by the Chief of the Special Intelligence Branch (SIB), Prabhakar Rao. The SIB, under his leadership, systematically targeted and gathered information on individuals considered threats to the BRS. “This intelligence was then relayed to SIB DSP Praneeth Kumar, who monitored these individuals continuously to develop profiles that could be used to control and counteract potential threats to the BRS party.”
The Telangana High Court had transferred the investigation – into the case of an alleged attempt to poach BRS MLAs – from the state SIT to the CBI. Three people – Ramachandra Bharati also known as Satish Sharma, Nandu Kumar and Simhayaji Swamy were named as accused in the case after a complaint was lodged by then BRS MLA Pilot Rohith Reddy, against them on 26th October 2022.
The trio was arrested while they were allegedly trying to entice four MLAs of the ruling BRS to join the BJP. However, they were granted bail by the High Court later. As per the FIR copy, Rohith Reddy alleged that the accused offered him Rs 100 crore, and wanted the legislator to leave the BRS, and contest as a BJP candidate in the subsequent Assembly election. They had allegedly requested Rohith Reddy to bring more BRS MLAs by offering Rs 50 crore each to join the BJP.
Author: Sangi Roy
Student of mass communication with a deep passion for print media and reading. My hobbies include traveling, exploring ancient history, and visiting museums.
