Tapgate accused misled review panel, former Telangana CS Santhi Kumari tells SIT
The SIT had earlier recorded the statements of former Principal Secretary (Home) Ravi Gupta, Director General of Police Dr Jitender, and former Intelligence chief Anil Kumar.
According to sources, the accused had claimed that all these officers were members of the 'review committee' and had approved the list of phone numbers submitted for surveillance. Prabhakar Rao, the prime accused in the case, reportedly told the SIT that phones were tapped based on orders from 'higher officials'.
The sources stated that the SIT inquiry is focusing on phones tapped up to a fortnight before the 2023 Assembly elections. The SIT is reportedly examining the entire list of tapped phones and trying to identify who gave the orders to surveil around 1,600 phones in the state, including those belonging to politicians, business personalities, film celebrities, IAS and IPS officers, and journalists.
Sources from the SIT stated that they are investigating the entire tapping episode using the available data from service providers and the Telecom Department. The sources also said that SIT is going through the call records obtained by Prabhakar Rao, Praneeth Rao and other accused from March 2023 to the end of November 2023. The SIT is also trying to identify why the accused obtained call records data from the service providers and on whose orders this was done.
The SIT officers are calling victims to record statements as witnesses by showing the Call Detail Records (CDRs) which were taken by the accused officers under key codes such as CAT 1, CAT 2, CAT 3 and so on. The SIT is also inquiring with the victims whether there was any intimidation, extortion, or other problems created by the accused officers between March 2023 and November 2023. If such activities are reported, the SIT is also accepting complaints from the victims and including these in the CRPC 161 statements.
The SIT is likely to record the statement of former DGP M Mahender Reddy. Prabhakar Rao reportedly stated to the investigation officer that his appointment was made by Mahender and that he followed instructions from higher officials.
Meanwhile, the SIT is also set to record the statement of Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay at a convenient time, likely Monday or Tuesday, as a witness, as his phone was also allegedly tapped by the accused officers.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
12 minutes ago
- Hans India
Devastating Kishtwar Cloudburst Claims 37 Lives, Injures Over 100 Pilgrims On Machail Mata Yatra Route
A catastrophic cloudburst struck Chositi village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Thursday afternoon, claiming at least 37 lives and injuring more than 100 people, predominantly pilgrims participating in the annual Machail Mata Yatra. The disaster occurred between 12 and 1 pm when hundreds of devotees had assembled at the village, which serves as the final motorable point before the 8.5-kilometer trek to the sacred Machail Mata temple situated at 9,500 feet elevation. Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma confirmed the casualties to media outlets, while Inspector General of Police BS Tuti indicated that the death toll could rise as several individuals remain missing. The natural disaster struck with devastating force, targeting a community kitchen that had been established to serve the pilgrims, causing maximum casualties among those gathered for the religious journey. Rescue teams have successfully evacuated 65 people from the affected area, though operations continue under challenging conditions with heavy rainfall and debris hampering efforts. Among the confirmed casualties is one Central Industrial Security Force officer, with three additional CISF personnel still missing. These security personnel had been deployed for temporary internal security duties during the pilgrimage season. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah immediately contacted Union Home Minister Amit Shah to brief him about the evolving situation and coordinate relief efforts. Abdullah emphasized that verified information from the disaster zone was arriving slowly due to the remote location and difficult terrain. He assured that all available resources from within Jammu and Kashmir and beyond were being mobilized to manage rescue operations effectively. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed profound grief over the incident and directed civil administration, police, army, National Disaster Response Force, and State Disaster Response Force officials to intensify rescue and relief operations. He assured that all possible assistance would be provided to those affected by the tragedy. Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who maintains close contact with the region, spoke directly with the district administration after being alerted by local MLA and Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma. Singh confirmed that the administration had immediately responded to the emergency, with rescue teams dispatched to the site and comprehensive damage assessment and medical arrangements being implemented. The cloudburst represents part of a broader pattern of extreme weather events affecting mountainous regions across northern India during the current monsoon season. Heavy rainfall has triggered multiple incidents of cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides, causing significant loss of life and property damage throughout the Himalayan regions. Similar weather-related disasters have recently occurred in neighboring Uttarakhand, where cloudbursts and landslides have disrupted transportation networks and caused substantial destruction. The Uttarkashi region experienced severe flooding on August 5, leading to mass destruction in Dharali and Harsil villages, prompting authorities to reconstruct critical infrastructure to facilitate relief operations. Himachal Pradesh has also been severely impacted by the monsoon fury, with 396 roads closed due to cloudbursts and flash floods affecting multiple districts including Shimla, Kullu, Kinnaur, and Lahaul and Spiti. The meteorological department has issued yellow alerts warning of continued heavy rainfall in isolated areas until August 20. The Machail Mata Yatra attracts thousands of devotees annually who undertake the challenging journey to seek blessings at the high-altitude shrine. The pilgrimage route passes through difficult terrain, making rescue and relief operations particularly challenging during adverse weather conditions. Local authorities continue coordinating with multiple agencies to ensure comprehensive rescue coverage and medical assistance for the injured. The incident highlights the vulnerability of pilgrimage routes in mountainous regions during monsoon seasons and underscores the need for enhanced early warning systems and emergency preparedness measures. The tragedy has prompted renewed discussions about implementing better safety protocols for religious gatherings in disaster-prone areas, particularly during monsoon periods when the risk of sudden weather events remains elevated in the Himalayan regions.
News18
19 minutes ago
- News18
I-day honour: 7 cops to get gallantry medals for Naxal encounter in Gadchiroli
Mumbai, Aug 14 (PTI) Seven Maharashtra police personnel will be awarded gallantry medals, three will get the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service and 39 the Medal for Meritorious Service on Independence Day, an official said on Thursday. The Centre announced service medals for 1,090 police personnel of various central and state forces on the eve of Independence Day. According to a Union Home Ministry statement, 233 personnel have been awarded the Medal for Gallantry (GM), 99 personnel awarded President's Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) and 758 have been decorated with Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) nationwide. The Police Medal for Gallantry will be given to seven personnel, including one posthumously, for their valour in an encounter against Maoists at Hemalkasa-Karampalli Road in the state's Gadchiroli district, an official said. The seven are assistant inspector Netaji Bandgar, assistant sub inspector Manohar Mahaka, constables Manohar Pendam, Prakash Kannake, Atul Yegolpawar, Hidayat Khan as well as Suresh Telami, who was martyred in the encounter, the official said. Anil Kumbhar, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) of Mumbai Police; Navinchandra Reddy, Joint Commissioner of Police, Nagpur City; and Rajendrasingh Gaur, Assistant Commissioner of Police have been awarded the President's Medal for Distinguished Service. The Medal for Meritorious Service has been conferred on Deputy Inspector General of Police Pramodkumar Shewale, ACP Dattatray Dhole, Sanjay Chandkhede, Shailendra Dhiwar, Jyoti Desai, Rajan Mane, Kailas Pundkar and Narendra Hiware, he informed. Police Inspector Deepakkumar Waghmare, Ravindra Vani, Satyawan Mashalkar, Police Sub-Inspector Sandeep Shinde, Sandeep More, Joseph Dsilva have also been selected for the police medal for meritorious services. The medal for gallantry is awarded on the grounds of rare conspicuous act of bravery, in saving life and property or in preventing crime or in arresting criminals. PSM is awarded for special distinguished record in service and MSM for valuable service characterised by resource and devotion to duty. PTI DC BNM view comments First Published: August 14, 2025, 20:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
42 minutes ago
- The Hindu
‘Gruha Lakshmi' amount due for July to be released by Ganesh Chaturthi, says Laxmi Hebbalkar
Minister for Women and Child Development Laxmi Hebbalkar said on Thursday that the monthly financial aid of ₹2,000 to women heads of families under the 'Gruha Lakshmi' guarantee scheme due for July will be released within a fortnight. Speaking to press persons in Udupi, the Minister said that she intends to release the amount by Ganesha Chaturthi. She said that the government released the amount due for June under the scheme about five days ago. On the demand by some persons to accommodate former Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna's son in the Cabinet, she said that the Congress is a high-command-driven party and the decision taken by it will be final. Regarding the Supreme Court cancelling the bail for seven accused in the Renukaswamy murder case involving actor Darshan and his associates, the Minister said all should bow to the verdict of the court 'as we believe in the Constitution.' 'Garuda Drishti' launched Earlier, she inaugurated 'Garuda Drishti' CCTV surveillance system of Udupi police. Funded by the Udupi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI), the system covers 207 junctions in the Udupi district with 621 IP cameras and at 10 junctions with 20 Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. Speaking on the occasion the Minister claimed that it was first of its kind initiative in the State. Lauding the UCCI office bearers and Hariram Shankar, Superintendent of Police of Udupi district, the Minister said that the system will enhance security and safety in the district. 'UCCI office bearers did not remain just as business persons, but they showed their commitment to the society's good. This is a model initiative to the entire State whereby entrepreneurs and business organisations can take a cue from, and follow suit,' the Minister said. The UCCI has invested ₹2.5 crore for the 'Garuda Drishti' initiative. The facility is backed by a 4 TB storage system, four-hour battery backup and Optical Fibre Cable connectivity for real-time monitoring. According to Udupi police, the project will enhance public safety, aid crime detection and regulate traffic. Additional Superintendent of Police Sudhakar S. Naik, UCCI president Ammunje Prabhakar Nayak, honorary secretary Vijayendra Vasant Kadiyali and others were present.
