"BRS on verge of collapse, those involved in phone-tapping case will be behind bars tomorrow": Telangana Congress

Reddy, who is also the chairman of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) media and communications, said that KTR has been called as a witness and not as an accused, adding that there was no reason for him to express fear over the probe.

He urged KTR to cooperate with the investigation rather than make political statements.

"KTR claims that he is not scared of any of these SID investigation notices. But let me remind you that he has been called as a witness in the investigation, not as an accused. So no need to worry, Mr KTR," Reddy remarked with a hint of sarcasm.

The Congress leader further alleged that facts related to the case were already revealed through a press note issued by former DGP CV Anand's successor, Sajjanar, and claimed that the BRS party was facing serious challenges following alleged actions during its time in government.

"Please come out and don't boast about yourself, just like your BRS party leader, Harish Rao, did. But the actual facts were revealed by the CP Sajanar in his press note in the evening hours," said the Congress leader.

Sama Ram Mohan Reddy also accused senior BRS leaders KTR, Harish Rao, and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao of involvement in the alleged phone-tapping case, asserting that the ongoing investigations would bring out the truth.

He added that those responsible would eventually be held accountable under the law.

"See, today BRS party is on the verge of collapse. Because of all the misdeeds they have committed during their government. And KTR, Harish Rao and KCR involvement in this phone tapping is quite evident," he claimed.

"All these investigations are leading to bringing out the facts. And 100% we believe that people who are behind this will be behind bars tomorrow," he added.

Meanwhile, BRS Working President KT Rama Rao appeared before the SIT today for questioning. Ahead of his arrival, he reached Telangana Bhawan and spoke to ANI, where he maintained his stance that the SIT notice would not deter or scare them, as they are not in the wrong, and slyly remarked that it is free publicity for them.

"He thinks we will be scared by a police summons. We have no problem appearing before the police, as we have not done anything wrong, and this also gives us free publicity," he said.

Rao claimed that the CM had been running a slander campaign against him for two whole years. "Give me evidence if I have done anything," he said, further questioning the grounds of the summons.

Taking direct aim at Reddy, he said that he is the victim of character assassination and "If anyone is responsible for this, it is the CM."

He alleged that the government was creating a series of "dramas", citing what he termed the Kaleshwaram drama, the Sheep Scam drama, the Formula E drama, and the phone tapping drama.

He maintained his stance and said he had never been involved in illegal or unjust activities. "I say this with my conscience as witness," he asserted.

KTR also claimed that for the past seven to eight years, he had been dealing with "severe character assassination" against him. "They tried to falsely link me to drug cases and alleged relationships with heroines. Not just me, my family and my children were also subjected to mental harassment," he alleged.

Referring to the summons issued to him in connection with the phone tapping case, he said he would cooperate with the inquiry and appear before the authorities. "I will go and question them. They must answer what mistake our government actually made and where things truly went wrong," he said.

The phone-tapping case revolves around allegations of widespread phone tapping of political leaders, including Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, during the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government led by K Chandrashekar Rao.

In March 2024, Former SIB DSP Praneeth Rao, Additional SPs Bhujanga Rao and Thirupathanna, were arrested in the phone-tapping case. Additionally, SIT also grilled former Task Force DCP Radhakishan Rao for over 10 hours and arrested him.

Last year, the case sparked a political row in the state, with BRS leader KT Rama Rao sending legal notices to Congress leaders Konda Surekha, Yennam Srinivas Reddy, and KK Mahender Reddy for allegedly making remarks suggesting that the former has a role in the phone-tapping case.

This led to a war of words between KTR and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy over allegations. BRS working president KTR had earlier claimed that phone-tapping, if it had happened, could have been limited to a couple of people". (ANI)