Hyderabad, Jan 31: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Telangana Police has declined former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao’s request to be examined at his Erravelli residence in connection with the alleged phone tapping case.
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief had sought a change in the schedule and venue of his questioning, citing his engagements related to the upcoming municipal elections. He had also argued that provisions under Section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) entitled him to be examined at his place of residence.
Rejecting the request, police officials said examinations under Section 160 are conducted at the ordinary place of residence as reflected in official records. They further pointed out that the investigation involves sensitive electronic and physical material, making it impractical to shift proceedings to a village location.
The SIT has now directed KCR to appear at his Hyderabad residence on February 1 at 3 pm for questioning.
In an earlier letter addressed to the Assistant Commissioner of Police of Jubilee Hills division, KCR said he was occupied with issuing authorisations for candidates as nominations were underway for elections to 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations. He requested that the examination be deferred and conducted at his Erravelli address.
He also maintained that Section 160 of the CrPC does not impose territorial limits on where an examination may be carried out and requested that all future notices be sent to his Siddipet district residence.
The case pertains to allegations of illegal surveillance and interception of phone communications involving journalists, retired police officials, and political figures during the previous BRS government. Former DCP P. Radhakrishna Rao has alleged that the surveillance was aimed at tracking political opponents of the then chief minister.
Earlier, the SIT had questioned senior BRS leaders, including former minister Harish Rao, party working president K.T. Rama Rao, and former MP Santosh Rao, at its Jubilee Hills office as part of the same investigation.