Supreme Court dismisses Telangana govt petition against Harish Rao in phone tapping case

The Supreme Court dismissed the Telangana government’s SLPs in the phone tapping case, upholding the High Court’s order quashing the FIR against BRS MLA T Harish Rao. The apex court ruled there was no fresh evidence to reopen the matter.

Hyderabad: In a major setback to the Congress government, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) filed by the State in the phone tapping case and granted decisive relief to BRS MLA and former minister T Harish Rao.

A Bench headed by Justice BV Nagarathna refused to interfere with the Telangana High Court’s earlier order quashing the FIR registered against Harish Rao and former DCP Radhakishan Rao, stating that there was no basis to reopen the matter.

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Following a complaint filed by Siddipet-based real estate businessman Chakradhar Goud in 2024, the Panjagutta police registered a case, alleging illegal phone tapping during the BRS government’s tenure. An FIR was subsequently registered. Harish Rao approached the High Court seeking quashing of the FIR, and on March 20 last year, the court ruled that there was no evidence linking him to the alleged offence.

The complainant later challenged the High Court order in the Supreme Court, but the apex court dismissed that plea as well. Despite this, the Telangana government again moved the Supreme Court on June 18, arguing that the investigation was ongoing and that Harish Rao needed to be questioned. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra appeared for the State.

On Monday, the Supreme Court rejected the argument, recalling that the High Court had clearly held that Harish Rao had no role in the alleged phone tapping. The Bench observed that it could not interfere with a reasoned High Court order in the absence of fresh evidence.