Hyderabad, Feb 4 (TNT): In a significant administrative move underscoring accountability within the police force, the Telangana government has demoted former Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) officer Dugyala Praneeth Rao in connection with the ongoing illegal phone tapping case.
The state government cancelled the accelerated promotion earlier granted to Praneeth Rao and reverted him to his substantive rank of Circle Inspector.
A 2007-batch police officer, Praneeth Rao was serving as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) before the demotion.
With this decision, he will continue in service only as an Inspector, official sources said.
The move comes amid a wider probe into alleged illegal surveillance carried out during the previous BRS government’s tenure.
Praneeth Rao, who served in the Special Intelligence Branch, is accused of playing a crucial role in unlawfully tapping the phones of senior political leaders, elected representatives, and government officials.
He was suspended and subsequently arrested on March 13, 2024, after Panjagutta police detained him from his residence in Rajanna Sircilla district.
The arrest followed a complaint lodged by Additional Superintendent of Police D. Ramesh, who was his former superior.
Investigators allege that Praneeth Rao was also involved in the destruction of digital evidence linked to the illegal surveillance operations.
The SIT has accused him of destroying hard disks that allegedly contained critical data related to phone tapping activities.
As part of the investigation, Praneeth Rao was questioned for several hours by the SIT on June 13, 2025, at the Jubilee Hills ACP office.
The SIT continues to examine the chain of command and procedural violations involved in the case.
The probe has widened to include senior officials, with the SIT questioning former SIB chief T. Prabhakar Rao on multiple occasions.
Officials say the investigation aims to fix responsibility at various levels and assess the extent of misuse of surveillance infrastructure.
Sources indicated that the demotion reflects the government’s intent to take firm departmental action alongside the criminal investigation, reinforcing its stated commitment to transparency, institutional accountability, and the rule of law.
TNT TS
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