Supreme Court Extends Custody of Former Intelligence Chief
The Supreme Court of India has extended the police custody of T. Prabhakar Rao, the former chief of the Telangana Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB). Rao is a key accused in the high-profile phone-tapping case that has rocked the state’s political circles. The bench, led by Justice B.V. Nagarathna, directed that his custody be extended until December 25, 2025.
During the hearing, the court noted that the investigation into illegal surveillance is a serious matter. Officials allege that under the previous government, private conversations of political leaders, judges, and citizens were secretly monitored. The Solicitor General informed the court that more time is needed to recover digital evidence, including access to encrypted cloud accounts.
While extending the custody, the court provided some relief to the former intelligence chief. It ordered that Rao be released from custody on December 26. Furthermore, the bench stated that no “coercive action” should be taken against him until the next hearing on January 16, 2026. This move aims to balance the needs of the investigation with the legal rights of the accused.
In a related development, the Telangana government has formed a new Special Investigation Team (SIT) to handle the case. This team is under the supervision of Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar. The nine-member group consists of senior officers tasked with examining the misuse of government resources for political spying.
The SIT will focus on how surveillance equipment was allegedly used to track rivals of the then-ruling party. Investigators are also looking into the destruction of official records at the SIB office. The government has directed the team to complete the probe and file a charge sheet as quickly as possible. This case remains one of the most significant legal battles in the state’s recent history.
