HYDERABAD: To take a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) former chief T Prabhakar Rao and the other accused A Shravan Kumar in the illegal phone tapping case, Hyderabad police had to give citation of 1997 Supreme Court judgment given. in case of fugitive mafia don Dawood Ibrahim to convince the Nampally criminal court.
The prosecution sought the NBW by citing section 73 of Cr PC. It was on the same ground the Central Bureau of Investigation had sought NBW against Dawood in connection with serial bomb blasts in Mumbai on March 12, 1993. The CBI then sought NBW to issue a red-corner notice against Dawood and other absconding accused by contacting Interpol.
Dawood’s case reference was taken by the Panjagutta police to request the court to tell that there was a precedence where in, the wanted accused was evading arrest. Police said Prabhakar and Shravan were accused under sections 409, 427, 201 and 120-B of IPC, besides Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, and sections 65, 66, 66 F(1)(B) and 70 of Information. Technology Act. Section 66-F of the IT Act deals with cyber terrorism.
Police accused that Prabhakar and other accused allegedly conspired to do surveillance against the opposition leaders to protect the political interests of BRS and its leadership as a gratitude for continuing him in sensitive position in Intelligence wing by creating new nomenclature, which had no precedence.
However, Prabhakar’s advocate argued in the court that the order given by the Supreme Court in Dawood’s case cannot be treated as a general rule.
“In view of the settled preposition of Law and the dictum relied by the prosecution in a case between CBI VS Dawood Ibrahim and others, this court has no hesitations in issuing the NBWs against Prabhakar Rao and Shravan under section 73 of Cr.Pc as this The court has the power to issue a warrant during the investigation also,” the judge said in his order. He said that “no prejudice would be caused to the respondents as these warrants are issued for appearance of accused before this court but not before the investigation officer”.
Police said Prabhakar allegedly formed a team of policemen to keep surveillance against opposition leaders, bureaucrats, businessmen and others. The alleged interception was done by former deputy superintendent of police D Praneeth Rao, and additional superintendent of police Thirupathanna, sources said.
Both had two different teams working under them. As of now, out of the six accused in the case, Praneeth, Bhujanga Rao, Thirupathanna and ex-DCP (Task Force) Radhakishan Rao were arrested.