In a significant turn for the ongoing phone-tapping investigation, Bharat Rashtra Samithi supremo K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) has agreed to meet with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) at 3:00 PM on February 1. The questioning is set to take place at his Banjara Hills residence, though the former Chief Minister isn't letting the police off the hook for how they’ve handled the process so far.
KCR fired off a sharp response to Jubilee Hills ACP P Venkatagiri, labeling the police’s recent tactics as illegal. He was particularly frustrated that SIT officers pasted a notice on his Banjara Hills home late at night, despite his earlier request to hold the meeting at his Erravalli farmhouse. KCR argued that the Jubilee Hills police are overstepping their bounds, claiming they don't even have the jurisdiction to serve him notices since he doesn't live within their precinct.
The back-and-forth over the venue has become a legal tug-of-war. KCR originally cited Section 160 of the CrPC, which spares men over 65 from having to travel to a police station for questioning. However, the SIT pushed back, pointing to his own election affidavits which list Banjara Hills as his official residence. They also claimed it would be a logistical nightmare to move the bulky physical and electronic evidence of the case all the way to Erravalli.
KCR hasn't bought that excuse, calling out what he sees as "double standards." He pointed out that when the police served his nephew, T Harish Rao, they sent the notice to his Hyderabad home rather than the Siddipet address listed on his affidavit. Despite these grievances, KCR stated that as a "responsible citizen," he would cooperate with the probe at the Banjara Hills location to avoid further stalling.
The investigation, led by Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar, is digging into a massive scandal involving the alleged illegal surveillance of politicians, judges, and journalists. KCR is just the latest in a string of high-profile BRS figures to be grilled; KT Rama Rao and Santosh Rao have already had their turn in the hot seat as the SIT tries to untangle the web of unauthorised interceptions.
Also read: KTR targets Revanth over SIT notice to KCR
Follow us
