Court issues ultimatum to ex-SIB chief in phone tapping case
Hyderabad: The police on Thursday pasted a notice at the house of the main accused in the phone tapping case, former Special Investigation Bureau (SIB) chief T Prabhakar Rao, who is absconding. The Nampally court has ordered Rao to appear in court by June 20. The notice pasted at Rao's house says if he does not appear, the Nampally court will declare him an offender.
After that the police will publicly announce him as an offender. If Rao is labelled as a proclaimed offender, his immovable and movable properties may face seizure. In the light of this, the police visited his residence in Taramati. As none was present, they left notice urging him to come in person. The investigation is likely to come to conclusion only if Rao appears. The police are making efforts to bring him to justice.
Last month, the Passport Authority of India cancelled Rao's passport and informed the Hyderabad police. The decision was taken following the Red-Corner Notice issued by the Interpol. Rao, currently residing in the US, has allegedly applied for Green Card. Following cancellation of his passport, the Green Card application has reportedly been rejected.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
20 hours ago
- News18
'Unprecedented, Unjust': Retired IPS Officers Demand Rollback Of Bengaluru Senior Cops' Suspension
Last Updated: They argue that the govt has insulted the 'respectable' post of Bengaluru Police Commissioner, demeaned a senior officer in public, and hurt the morale of the entire police force. In a sweeping decision, one that is being criticised from several quarters as a wrong and knee-jerk move, the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka took an 'unprecedented step" in the history of the state's policing culture, suspending officers from the top down – from the city police commissioner to an inspector, over the June 4 stampede during Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team's IPL victory celebrations. This decision against the Commissioner of Police in Bengaluru, B Dayananda, and three other senior police officers of Bengaluru city — a major metropolitan city and global hub — has drawn sharp criticism. The government stated that the reason for this decision was 'substantial dereliction of duty" by the officers in handling the Chinnaswamy stampede case that led to the death of 11 persons and 67 injured. But the decision has certainly not gone down well with the police. Several retired IPS officers who have served as Bengaluru Police Commissioners and DGP of Karnataka say that not only is the move unprecedented, it also reflects poor judgment by the state These officers, who have also earlier served in the capacity of Bengaluru Police Commissioner or DGP, came down heavily on the Siddaramaiah government for their decision and sought to revoke it immediately. They argue that the government has insulted the 'respectable' post of the Bengaluru Police Commissioner, demeaned a senior officer in public, and hurt the morale of the entire police force. Having served as Bengaluru Police Commissioner during his active police career, Rao said the position is one of immense responsibility, leading a force of around 25,000 personnel to ensure the safety of a city with over 11.4 million people. 'This uncontrollable Deputy Chief Minister of Siddaramaiah (referring to DK Shivakumar) , who has become his enfant terrible, forced him into this grand ragtag programme for which there was absolutely no preparation. No ambulances, no doctors, no ropes, no CCTV cameras — nothing. Now placing the city police commissioner under suspension — what could be a more foolish move? It's unimaginable." Calling it a shocking decision, Rao said the suspension of Dayananda and other officers must be revoked, and criminal cases should be filed against Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar. 'They not only have blood on their hands, they have lost their minds as well," the former IPS officer said. Former DGP ST Ramesh called the move 'not only unprecedented in many ways," but 'totally unjust." 'Firstly, it is an en masse suspension — from Commissioner down to Inspector. Secondly, it is a suspension without a prima facie case against each of them. What is the basis of the suspension — arbitrary decision," he questioned. He said that to proceed with such action, a proper preliminary enquiry must be ordered, which could have been quickly concluded. He added that the suspension was unjustified and Government punished the police officers for doing their job. 'They have punished officers who slogged through the night of June 3. The incident on June 4 was not of their making. It happened due to many factors — RCB, KSCA, BCCI, and the political leadership of the state government," Ramesh said. 'I hear that the police pleaded with the organisers of the RCB event to hold it on Sunday. It is universally known that police deployments need time. You need to plan, identify pressure points, map out sensitive areas, and mobilise manpower — which takes time. To get personnel from surrounding districts. you need to coordinate with stakeholders in order understand the challenges. For all these reasons, these suspensions are not only unprecedented, but totally unjust," he added. While the officers have legal remedies — be it the State Administrative Tribunal or approaching the court — Ramesh said, 'For a senior officer like the Commissioner, or even a junior officer like an Inspector, this move is public humiliation. It's not about legal remedies or going to court. After slogging away 24×7 for the state government, the action shakes your conscience," said Ramesh What happens to these suspended officers? During the period of suspension, the officers shall be paid a subsistence allowance in accordance with relevant rules. They shall not leave headquarters under any circumstances without written permission from the State Government. What does the government suspension order say? The government, in its order, said that upon examining how the events unfolded leading to the tragedy, prima facie it found 'substantial dereliction of duty" by the following officers: 1. Sri B Dayananda, IPS – Additional Director General & Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru City 2. Sri Vikash Kumar Vikash, IPS – Inspector General & Additional Commissioner of Police (West), Bengaluru City 3. Sri Shekar H Tekkannavar, IPS – Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Division, Bengaluru City 4. Sri C Balakrishna – Assistant Commissioner of Police, Cubbon Park 5. Sri AK Girish – Police Inspector, Cubbon Park Police Station The government note explained that on June 4, 2025, a stampede during the RCB victory celebrations at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, resulted in 11 deaths and over 50 injuries. A magisterial enquiry has been ordered, led by the Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Bengaluru Urban District, with a report expected within 15 days. One of the most glaring mistakes made by the officers the government said was that it was found was that 'the situation was not discussed with higher-ups to seek necessary guidance and advice." As a result, the situation spiraled out of control, leading to tragic loss of life and embarrassment to the government. The government's stand is that although RCB's CEO informed the Commissioner of Police on June 3 about the celebrations on June 4, the Commissioner's office failed to respond in writing, either rejecting or approving the event due to lack of preparation time. top videos View all RCB and the Cricket Association went ahead and tweeted about the event, inviting fans without the usual issuance of tickets or passes. Despite knowing this and expecting a massive turnout, the police failed to either organise the event systematically or issue public advisories or mobilise additional forces for crowd control. The state's Criminal Investigation Department, the Chief Minister added, will take over the investigation into the mishap that has shocked the country. Earlier, the Chief Minister had ordered an inquiry into the incident by a one-man commission led by retired High Court judge Justice Michael D'Cunha. About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18's digital platform. She has previously worked with More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Bangalore City Police bengaluru stampede Location : Bengaluru, India, India First Published: June 06, 2025, 11:23 IST News india 'Unprecedented, Unjust': Retired IPS Officers Demand Rollback Of Bengaluru Senior Cops' Suspension
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Prabhakar Rao likely to return to India on June 9
Hyderabad: Former Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) chief Prabhakar Rao, prime accused in the phone tapping case, is expected to come to India on June 9 from the US. It is learnt that Rao approached the Indian embassy in the US and is all set to get his passport. The Supreme Court had recently directed authorities to restore his passport to allow him to travel to India. The SC also protected him from arrest, but directed him to return to India within three days of obtaining his travel documents. The passport had been revoked following a request to Centre from Hyderabad police as he had been avoiding questioning by cops by staying in the US citing ill health. Soon after Hyderabad police registered a case of phone tapping in 2024, Rao had fled to the US.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Hans India
Kannada Actor's Mother Challenges Prolonged Detention In Karnataka High Court Despite Bail Grant
The mother of Kannada actor Ranya Rao has approached the Karnataka High Court with a habeas corpus petition, seeking judicial intervention to secure her daughter's release from prolonged custody. The legal challenge centers on the actor's continued detention despite receiving bail approval in a high-profile gold smuggling case. Ranya Rao secured bail from the Special Court for Economic Offences on May 20, yet remains incarcerated due to overlapping charges under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA). This legal complexity has created a situation where despite judicial relief in one case, the actor continues to face detention under preventive custody provisions. The case originated from Rao's arrest at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport on March 3, where customs officials allegedly discovered a sophisticated gold concealment operation. Investigators reportedly found 14.8 kilograms of gold bars strategically hidden around her waist and calves using medical bandages and tissues, with additional quantities concealed in her footwear and clothing pockets. The seized contraband, comprising 24-carat gold valued at over Rs 12.56 crore, was allegedly smuggled from Dubai. The substantial quantity and sophisticated concealment methods led to charges under both the Customs Act and the Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, creating multiple legal proceedings that have complicated her release. During recent court proceedings, Additional Solicitor General Aravind Kamath indicated that formal objections had been filed regarding the habeas corpus petition. The Karnataka High Court has scheduled the next hearing for June 18, providing both parties time to prepare their arguments on the detention's legality. The Special Court for Economic Offences had granted bail to both Rao and co-accused Tarun Kondaru Raju under specific conditions, including surrender of passports, prohibition from leaving the country, and execution of Rs 2 lakh bonds with two sureties each. Justice Vishwanath C Gowdar's bail order came after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence failed to file charges within the mandatory timeframe. However, the COFEPOSA legislation provides authorities with extensive powers to maintain preventive detention for individuals suspected of activities threatening foreign exchange conservation or engaging in smuggling operations. This legal framework allows continued custody even when bail has been granted in related cases, creating the current legal impasse. The case highlights the complex intersection of multiple legal frameworks governing economic offences in India, where overlapping jurisdictions can result in prolonged detention despite judicial relief in specific charges. The High Court's decision will likely provide crucial clarity on the balance between preventive detention powers and individual liberty rights in cases involving serious economic crimes.
