The bench of judges BV Nagarathn and R. Mahadevan has expanded their temporary protection against arrest until 18 November former Telangan Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) T. Prabhakar Rao. | Photo Credit: Hind
On Tuesday (October 14, 2025), the Supreme Court directed the former head of T. Prabhakar Rao, accused in the case of an alleged phone to provide the motto to his ICloud account in the presence of forensic experts.
The bench of judges BV Nagarathn and R. Mahadevan also expanded the interim protection of Mr. Rao before arresting until 18 November and ordered him to appear before the investigator and cooperate with the probe. “How and when the petitioner is summoned, he takes steps to reset and activate the password in the presence of forensic experts, as he submitted to the appointed advisor to the petitioner,” said Lavička.
Mr. Rao faces accusations of the organization of illegal supervision of politicians, journalists, entrepreneurs and even some High Court judges during the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) regime.
The Court of Justice listened to the state’s request, which tried to release interim protection against the arrest granted to Mr. Raom 29. May in connection with the case.
“Shocking facts”
Attorney General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the state, said “shocking facts” appeared and claimed that there was no “progress” in the investigation because of the “non -cooperation of Mr. Rao”. He also claimed that the officer formatted his devices, thus destroying fundamental electronic evidence.
“He captured phones of important people, not just politicians. After applying for a preliminary bail, he formatted the facility …. The central forensic scientific laboratory says it,” Mr. Mehta said on the bench.
However, the head of the DS Naida attorney representing Mr. Rao denied the accusation and claimed that his client had fully cooperated with the investigation. “Everything that the investigators demanded was shared with them in addition to the motto for his personal iCloud devices,” he said, adding that Mr. Rao has been summoned 11 times and questioned almost 18 hours.
Mr. Naida explained that his client had forgotten the password on the account that was created a few years ago and expressed his willingness to reset him in the presence of forensic experts.
“Data deleted”
When Judge Nagarathna pointed out that the data was removed from the device, Mr. Naida replied that it was not Mr. Rao, but computer experts of the ministry who deleted the information in accordance with standard security protocols.
“I’m not the only one in the department … I haven’t erased anything myself. It’s a norm that is practiced in any security department,” he said.
However, Justice Mahadevan noted that it was only Mr. Rao, who had access to his iCloud account and asked, “What is the warranty that you have not removed anything from him now?”
Mr. Naida claimed that “electronic tracks” would remain and can be verified by forensic experts. He further informed the bench that all official facilities had already been handed over to the authorities and that only the personal account of the iCloud of his client, who did not contain any official information remained.
During the proceedings, Mr. Naida also claimed that “outsiders”, including deputies and the MLA, were allowed to interrogate Mr. Ra and claimed that they were among those whose phones were tapped.
Justice Nagarathna, who takes a serious exception of the accusation, noted: “It can’t be tamasha. How can MPs and Mla and only interrogate an investigative agency come.”
However, Mr Mehta denied this claim and stated that he could make a statement on this matter. He added that the accused’s interaction was limited to an investigation agency, except in cases where confrontation with witnesses or co -mutated was required.
The High Court in Tellangana dismissed Mr. Rao’s foresight, but the Supreme Court granted him the provisional relief of May 29.
Published – October 14, 2025 20:34
