SIT summons former MP Santosh Kumar in phone-tapping case

The SIT investigating the phone-tapping case has summoned BRS general secretary J Santosh Kumar for questioning on Tuesday. BRS leaders questioned the timing, as the summons coincides with the party’s planned meeting with the Governor over the Singareni coal scam

Hyderabad: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged phone-tapping case has issued a notice to former Rajya Sabha MP and BRS general secretary J Santosh Kumar, directing him to appear for questioning at 3 pm on Tuesday.

The notice, served under Section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code, asked Santosh Kumar to appear before SIT officials at the Jubilee Hills Assistant Commissioner of Police’s office. The police said he may be acquainted with facts relevant to the investigation in Crime No. 243/2024, registered at Panjagutta police station.

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Reacting to the notices, Santosh Kumar announced that he would appear before the SIT and cooperate with the investigating authorities. He expressed immense faith and respect for the law and stated that he was prepared for questioning as he had nothing to hide.

Former Ministers and senior BRS leaders KT Rama Rao and T Harish Rao have already been questioned at length last week, after the latter exposed the Singareni tenders scam.

BRS leaders were quick to question the timing. The summons landed just as the party announced a meeting with Governor Jishnu Dev Varma on Tuesday to submit a formal complaint on the alleged Singareni coal scam and seek a comprehensive probe.

Santosh Kumar’s appearance before the SIT is scheduled barely 90 minutes before the BRS delegation is slated to visit Raj Bhavan at 4.30 pm on Tuesday.