KTR calls SIT investigation scripted drama with leaks and no substance

After a seven-hour questioning by the SIT in the alleged phone-tapping case, BRS working president KT Rama Rao accused the Congress government of running a diversionary, leak-driven investigation to distract the public from governance failures and unfulfilled promises.

Hyderabad: Emerging from a marathon seven-hour questioning session with a triumphant smile that would make his political rivals frown, BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Friday said the Congress government was running a diversionary, leak-driven investigation that lacked substance in the alleged phone-tapping case. The Congress was selectively leaking information to certain media outlets to run frivolous reports to distract the public from its two years of incompetent rule, he said, adding that he had fully cooperated with the SIT officials and answered all their queries.

Speaking to the media at Telangana Bhavan after returning from the SIT office, from where he stepped out at 6.30 pm after going in at 11 am, Rama Rao raised concerns over a sustained campaign of selective leaks and misinformation over the past two years aimed at tarnishing the image of BRS leaders, including himself.

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“I questioned the SIT officials about the source of repeated leaks to a section of the media. They were evasive in their answers, but told me that they were not responsible for what is being circulated,” he said, urging media organisations to verify information before publication. He stated that unverified reports had caused mental agony to him and his family, as well as party cadre and his constituents.

Referring to past reports alleging that phones of certain actresses were tapped at his behest during the BRS regime, the former Minister said he had pointedly asked the SIT whether they had received any such complaint or had any evidence in this regard. In response, the officials pointed out that they had already clarified to the media that no such tapping had occurred.

“But by then, reputational damage had already been done. Our characters are being assassinated for no fault of ours. My family and I were put through unnecessary mental agony,” he said.

Rama Rao stated that investigators repeatedly asked similar questions related to a large number of individuals but did not present any specific evidence linking him to any wrongdoing. Responding to media queries, he denied being questioned alongside anyone else, stating that he was alone with the SIT officials throughout the day.

The BRS working president reiterated that the Congress government was using such investigations to divert attention from governance failures and unfulfilled election promises. He questioned why issues raised by the BRS, including alleged irregularities in Singareni coal operations, tenders, land matters and policy decisions involving the Chief Minister’s brother-in-law as the alleged kingpin, had not seen similar urgency in probe or response.

He asserted that as a responsible opposition, the BRS would continue to appear before authorities whenever summoned. “But as the main opposition party, we will also continue to question the Congress government on public issues, its 420 promises and failures,” he asserted.

Rama Rao remarked that following the SIT questioning, he had come to the conclusion that the present Congress regime was not only tapping the phones of opposition leaders but also those in the government, including Ministers. He said the SIT had informed him that they might call him again and added that he was ready to cooperate.

He also thanked party leaders and cadre who expressed solidarity during his appearance. He urged them not to get disheartened or believe cooked-up reports in the media and instead continue to expose the government’s failures.