Phones of Bandi Sanjay's close associates tapped, SIT finds

Hyderabad: The SIT probing the alleged phone tapping done during previous BRS regime has found that phone conversations of Union minister of state, Bandi Sanjay Kumar's close aide Boyinpally Praveen Rao were also intercepted.

Praveen Rao has been a long-time associate of Bandi Sanjay, actively involved in his political journey from the outset. He managed Sanjay’s election campaigns during his three MLA contests, two MP bids, and one corporator race.

In recent years, Praveen Rao has served as Sanjay’s personal assistant and the BJP Karimnagar Parliamentary Convenor, coordinating constituency tours and supervising the execution of various programmes.

Bandi Sanjay had repeatedly alleged in the past that the BRS government, unable to face him politically, had illegally tapped not just his phone but also the phones of his family members and staff, pointed sources close to Bandi Sanjay.

On Friday SIT officials confirmed that the phone of Bandi Sanjay’s close aide Praveen Rao, was tapped. Praveen Rao recently received a call informing him, “Your phone was previously tapped. A notice will be sent to you shortly, and you are required to appear for questioning. Please remain available.”

During Bandi Sanjay’s tenure as BJP state president, when he strongly criticized the KCR government and led the Praja Sangrama Yatra (People’s Struggle March) across the state to connect with the public, Praveen Rao managed the Karimnagar Parliament-related activities.

Notably, in several key incidents, such as G.O. 317, the 10th class Hindi paper leak, the Bhainsa riots, the unrest during the India-Pakistan cricket match in Karimnagar, and the protest at Satavahana University against an incident under the pretext of caste ideology, Praveen Rao stood by Sanjay. He was even named as a co-accused in several public agitation-related cases alongside Sanjay.

Praveen Rao played a crucial role alongside Bandi Sanjay during several high-profile events, including the Bhainsa riots, the Hindu Ekta Yatra, the clash following a black-flag protest by a certain group after India’s cricket victory, and the agitation at Satavahana University.

“As Sanjay’s initiatives gained widespread public support and intensified opposition to the BRS government, KCR reportedly perceived him as a significant political threat and allegedly resorted to phone tapping as a means to target him. The plan was to preemptively disrupt Sanjay’s political activities, constituency visits, public meetings, and planning by illegally tapping not just his phones but also those of his key aide, Praveen Rao, using the police as a tool,” said another close aide of Sanjay.