SC questions Telangana government on Prabhakar Rao
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Digital Desk, New Delhi. In the much talked about phone tapping case of Telangana, the Supreme Court on Friday strongly questioned the state government whether it wants to keep former Special Intelligence Bureau (SBI) chief T. Prabhakar Rao in jail until he completely breaks down.
This comment came at a time when Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan's bench was hearing the anticipatory bail plea of Prabhakar Rao. At the beginning of the hearing, the court indicated that it may make the interim relief granted to Prabhakar Rao permanent.
SC questions Telangana government on Prabhakar Rao
However, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for the Telangana government, opposed it, saying that the legal questions in this case are serious, especially whether a person living abroad and declared a fugitive can get anticipatory bail or not.
On this the bench made a sharp comment and said that it seems to us that you want to keep him in jail till he breaks down. We will not allow our command to be used like this.
Former SIB chief's interim security extended till March 10
The Supreme Court made it clear that anticipatory bail does not mean that the accused will be free from investigation. The state police will have full right to call them for questioning.
The bench said that the order of surrender and custody of Prabhakar Rao on December 11 was given as an interim arrangement under Article 142 to help in the investigation.
The Supreme Court has fixed the next hearing of the case on March 10 and till then has extended the interim protection given to Prabhakar Rao.
(With inputs from news agency PTI)