He is among the police officers who allegedly conspired to tap the phones of political bigwigs
HYDERABAD: Almost five months after he was arrested in the high-profile phone tapping case – along with three other senior Telangana cops – N Bhujanga Rao, an additional SP rank officer, has been granted 15-day
interim bail
on medical grounds. The arrested intelligence wing officer cited his previous medical history, pertaining to a heart treatment that he underwent, and claimed that there was a need for further treatment.
Since March 23, Rao has been in judicial remand on allegations of being part of a team of police officers who allegedly conspired to tap the phones of political bigwigs, including current chief minister A Revanth Reddy and his family, leading industrialists and private individuals to help BRS retain power in Telangana.
In the alleged phone tapping case, police have named six persons as accused – former Special Intelligence Bureau chief Prabhakar Rao, DSP rank officer Praneeth Rao, ASP Bhujanga Rao and Tirupathanna, and senior executive of a vernacular media Sravan Kumar. Except for the absconding Prabhakar Rao and Sravan Kumar, the remaining were arrested and have been in judicial remand for nearly five months. Their
bail
petitions have been repeatedly rejected by the lower
court
in the past.While granting bail to Rao, the first additional sessions judge laid down different conditions, including directing the accused not to leave the limits of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).
“This court is of the view that in view of the complexity of the
medical conditions
of the accused it may require a thorough diagnosis which may even include his admission to hospital. When such is the medical condition of the accused, this court is of the view that the request of the accused for the grant of interim bail is to be considered on medical and humanitarian grounds,” the court stated in its order.
Though the prosecution came forward to provide an escort for a day or two, the court said it was an unnecessary financial burden on the state. Hence, the court granted him interim bail without any police escort. After the completion of 15 days, Rao has to update the court about his treatment and surrender.
