In a significant development regarding the ongoing phone-tapping case, the Supreme Court has extended interim protection to former Telangana Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) chief T Prabhakar Rao until March 10. The decision comes after the court expressed displeasure over the Telangana government’s intention to keep Mr. Rao in jail beyond the need for custodial interrogation.
During a hearing today, Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra argued that as a declared absconder, Mr. Rao cannot maintain an anticipatory bail plea. The court has been considering his appeal against the High Court order rejecting his anticipatory bail application in the case.
The Supreme Court had initially granted custody to the Telangana government for interrogating Mr. Rao on allegations of illegal phone-tapping. However, with the purpose of custodial interrogation served, the court today ordered that the interim protection granted to Mr. Rao should continue till March 10.
The extension of interim protection provides a temporary reprieve for Mr. Rao as the legal proceedings in this case continue. The next hearing in the matter is expected to take place on or after March 10, depending on the court’s schedule.
