Telangana Government Cancels DSP's Promotion Amid Wiretapping Allegations

The Telangana government has annulled the promotion of DSP Praneeth Kumar, accusing him of involvement in a wiretapping scandal. Kumar, a 2007-batch officer, is suspected of illegal surveillance on politicians, businessmen, and journalists. The government cites misconduct, data manipulation, and evidence destruction as reasons for the cancellation.

In a significant administrative move, the Telangana government on Wednesday revoked the promotion of DSP Praneeth Kumar, citing his alleged involvement in a phone tapping operation during the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) administration. The 2007-batch officer was accused of surveilling political figures, entrepreneurs, and media personnel.

Government documents revealed Kumar's gross misconduct, including the illicit use of a special leased-line internet connection intended for the Special Operations Team (SOT). He allegedly tampered with and removed 42 hard disks to erase sensitive data, with evidence indicating collaboration with an electrician to dismantle hardware and disable security cameras, according to the Telangana government's statement.

BRS Working President KT Rama Rao criticized the handling of the investigation, calling it high-handed. He alleged that the police acted prematurely and claimed that prior investigations had been politicized to tarnish the previous administration's reputation. Rao urged the media to avoid spreading unverified information.

(With inputs from agencies.)