If the reports appearing in a section of media are to be believed, Bharat Rashtra Samithi and former Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao can breathe it easy in the sensational illegal telephone tapping case involving former special intelligence branch chief T Prabhakar Rao.
According to these reports, Prabhakar Rao, the prime accused and former Officer on Special Duty of the Special Intelligence Branch (SIB), has reportedly been granted a green card in the United States.
The reports quoting reliable sources said, his family members, who are already settled in the US, sponsored him for the green card, allowing him to secure residency there. This development is expected to significantly impact the ongoing investigation into the case.
Prabhakar Rao left for the US soon after the illegal phone tapping scandal came to light.
On March 10, SIB Additional SP Ramesh lodged a complaint with the Panjagutta police, and Prabhakar Rao flew to the US the following day, where he has remained since.
Meanwhile, the police arrested four police officers as part of the investigation and named Prabhakar Rao as the primary accused.
Subsequently, a charge sheet was filed against him in court. Since then, efforts have been underway to bring him back to India. Notices were sent to him via email.
Prabhakar Rao informed Hyderabad police that he was in Aurora, Illinois, for medical treatment. He also mentioned that his visa was set to expire in June and that he would return to Hyderabad if cleared by his doctors.
However, he remained in the US even after the expiration of his visa. The police discovered that he had travelled to the US in March on a three-month visa and later extended it for another six months.
Authorities issued a lookout notice against him and intensified efforts to secure a Red Corner Notice through Interpol. His passport was also cancelled, and the Ministry of External Affairs initiated attempts to inform the U.S. police through official channels.
In light of these developments, reports of Prabhakar Rao being granted a US green card have emerged. Holding a green card allows him to reside indefinitely in the US, reducing the likelihood of his return to Hyderabad anytime soon.
The police authorities are now looking into what actions can be taken if information about his cancelled passport is conveyed to US authorities through the Indian embassy.