Hyderabad: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar after appearing before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the phone-tapping case demanded for a CBI enquiry on Friday. He further reiterated that ‘fundamental rights’ were violated during the Bharat Rashtra Samithi(BRS) regime.

Addressing the media at Hyderabad’s Dilkusha Guest House, the BJP Senior leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar claimed the KCR-led administration illegally surveillanced over 6,500 individuals, including politicians BRS senior leader Harish Rao and BRS MLAs, then opposition leaders and judges.

Sanjay reiterated that his phone was tapped every moment, along with those of then-opposition leaders, including present CM Revanth Reddy and former minister Harish Rao. He accused the BRS of monitoring the judge investigating the TSPSC paper leak case, calling it an assault on judicial independence.

Further Sanjay claimed KCR’s government tapped phones of his daughter Kavitha and other BRS leaders except KCR, KTR, and Santosh. The Union Minister alleged the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) was weaponized to extort money from contractors and politicians, citing the seizure of Rs 7 crore from a Khammam Congress candidate.

Demands for probe

Sanjay challenged the state government to write to the Centre for a CBI or ED investigation, claiming the current SIT lacks authority to question judges or former CMs. Further summon KCR, KTR, and CM Revanth Reddy for questioning, asking, "Why is Revanth Reddy avoiding the SIT?". Investigate the alleged "extortion racket" by ex-SIB chief Prabhakar Rao.