RS Praveen Kumar Questions SIT Notices in Phone Tapping Probe
Reaction to SIT Notices After Public Criticism
BRS leader RS Praveen Kumar has strongly objected to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) issuing him notices after he publicly criticised the questioning of senior party leaders K T Rama Rao and T Harish Rao in the phone tapping case. He said raising concerns over alleged excesses during investigations was his democratic right.
Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan in Hyderabad, Praveen Kumar stated that within 12 hours of his criticism, SIT personnel visited his residence around midnight and served notices. He said he was warned of civil and criminal action if he failed to submit a reply with supporting evidence within two days.
Stand on Free Expression and Police Warnings
Praveen Kumar said he would not be intimidated by police warnings. He maintained that he had neither resorted to personal attacks nor concealed facts while speaking on public issues. He added that his opposition to what he termed as acts of intimidation would continue.
Referring to reports that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had earlier stated in Delhi that phone tapping was a routine matter, Praveen Kumar questioned the rationale behind the present SIT investigation.
Objections to SIT Leadership
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The BRS leader also disputed the contents of the notice, which reportedly referred to a demand for a separate SIT to probe cases registered in Andhra Pradesh against SIT chief C V Anand and former police officer Sajjanar. He termed this reference factually incorrect.
Praveen Kumar recalled that several cases related to phone tapping were registered in Andhra Pradesh in June 2015, following the vote-for-note case, after which an SIT was constituted there as well. He stated that Sajjanar had served in the Telangana Intelligence wing during that period and questioned the propriety of his appointment as chief of the current Telangana SIT.
Allegations of Selective Action
Stating that he had sought SIT probes into multiple alleged irregularities involving the present government, including the coal scam, Praveen Kumar said he had not defamed any official or political leader. He alleged that BRS leaders had faced sustained character attacks over the past two years and questioned the lack of police action despite complaints.
He further asked why no notices were issued to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy over allegations related to phone tapping. He also questioned the practice of repeated notices to BRS leaders, media leaks, arrests of journalists, and public commentary by Congress leaders on an ongoing investigation.
The broader context of the case includes the questioning of BRS leaders by the SIT, detailed here: Telangana SIT Summons KTR in Phone Tapping Probe.
