Harish Rao urges HC to set aside a ‘politically motivated’ FIR against him

HYDERABAD: Former minister T. Harish Rao filed a quash petition before the Telangana High Court seeking setting aside of the FIR registered against him on charges of involvement in the alleged phone-tapping of businessman Gadhagoni Chakradhar Goud.

Rao submitted that the FIR was an act of vengeance that was politically motivated to malign his image.

He said that the Panjagutta police had not followed due procedure and nor conducted a primary inquiry. Rao said Goud did not mention why there was a delay in filing the complaint. The High Court may hear the petition on Thursday.

The Panjagutta police had registered a criminal case against Rao and former DCP Radhakishan Rao based on a complaint filed by the businessman, who accused them of criminal conspiracy, intimidation, and illegal phone-tapping.

The complainant claimed that on the orders of Rao, his phone was illegally tapped and the former minister’s associates had threatened him and his family with dire consequences.