The phone-tapping scandal is taking unexpected new turns as new facts surface. Prabhakar Rao, the key suspect in the case, had earlier come for several rounds of interrogations with evasive answers. But according to reports, he made some telling statements during the SIT questioning on Friday. He asserted that the whole phone-tapping exercise was done at the behest of the then Director General of Police (DGP) alone, pointing out that there were no other top government officials involved and no one directed him otherwise.
Earlier in the SIT probe, a number of accused officers, including Praneeth Rao, Bhujang Rao, Radhakrishnan Rao, and Tirupatanna, had deposed that they acted upon orders issued by Prabhakar Rao. Now that Prabhakar Rao has mentioned the name of the former DGP, the case has come under new spotlight. When asked about the reasons for phone tapping and who sanctioned it, he clarified that it was done on the basis of intelligence reports that showed encouragement of Maoist activities.
The SIT has asked for concrete evidence to support these charges. His charges against senior officials have excited police and political circles with heated debates. Most think that it could be an attempt by Prabhakar Rao to shift the burden and avoid continuing legal trials.
As the inquiry unfolds, the phone-tapping scandal is likely to reveal key revelations, perhaps leading to political turmoil in the near term. This unfolding controversy remains one of the most sensitive and incendiary matters in affairs.