KTR, Harish Rao served notices as witnesses, not accused, says Jupally

Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao said the SIT probing the phone-tapping case issued notices to former Ministers K.T. Rama Rao and T. Harish Rao only as witnesses under Section 160 of the CrPC, rejecting allegations of political vendetta.

Hyderabad: Giving a new twist to the ongoing political controversy over the phone tapping issue, Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao on Saturday said the Special Investigation Team probing the case had served notices to former Ministers K T Rama Rao and T Harish Rao only as witnesses and not as accused.

“The notices were served under Section 160 of the CrPC. The SIT did not consider Rama Rao and Harish Rao as criminals but called them as witnesses to verify the facts related to the phone tapping issue. This is being done only to seek information from them,” Krishna Rao said at a press conference here.

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Ruling out political vendetta, as alleged by Bharat Rashtra Samithi leaders, the Minister said that if there had been any such intent, the investigating officers could have served notices under different sections of law. There were allegations that the phones of several prominent individuals and leaders were tapped and that the government was conducting an inquiry into the matter. However, BRS leaders were making false allegations against the Congress government, he claimed.

“All this is being done with an eye on the ensuing municipal elections. By making false charges, the BRS wants to derive political mileage,” Krishna Rao alleged.