Hyderabad: The Panjagutta police booked a conspiracy case against former Minister and BRS MLA T Harish Rao and former Task Force DCP P Radhakishan Rao for allegedly tapping the phone of a real-estate businessman G Chakradhar Goud for doing philanthropic work and helping farmers financially in Siddipet.
The case was booked under provisions of Sections 120B, 386, 409 and 506 read with 34 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 66 of IT Act-2008. In the FIR, Goud said he started Farmers First Foundation at GS chambers at Nagarjuna Circle in Panjagutta to encourage organic farming by providing Farmers with modern techniques and creating business opportunities through stalls.
“On September 25, 2022, I organised a program at Konda Bhudevi Gardens near new bus stand in Siddipet, where I financially supported families of 100 agricultural tenant farmers who had committed suicide providing Rs.1 lakh to each family,” he said. He said an invitation was sent to the previous Governor, but local authorities denied permission.
“On March 26, 2023, I distributed Rs.1lakh each to 150 widows of farmers who had committed suicide. I did not invite any political leader to either of these events including Harish Rao. This led Harish Rao to bore a grudge against me as my charitable activities were gaining significant public attention and support,” Goud explained.
“I was becoming increasingly popular among poor families, furthermore, I had announced plans to establish small scale industries to empower these families, which Harish Rao likely saw as a potential competition in the future,” he said.
As a result, Harish Rao along with others criminally conspired to harm Goud by falsely implicating in fabricated cases tarnishing reputation and attempting to discourage him from continuing charitable work.
Harish Rao even threatened dire consequences including the possibility of killing Goud for failing to stop charity work in his constituency. “On January 23, 2023 I announced plans to start a small scale unit – “Aggipetta Macha” match box company in Siddipet district intending to uplift the lives of poor families. Following directions from Harish Rao, a false case was booked against me after which I was arrested and later remanded to judicial custody,” he said.
Goud said he got bail after 10 days. Subsequently, Goud began receiving threatening messages on his mobile phone from unknown numbers, asking him from where he was getting money. In spite of getting threatening messages, Goud continued charitable work.
“On March 15h, 2023. I Joined the BJP in Delhi in the presence of BJP leaders Eetala Rajender and Tarun Chugh and a month later, I provided financial assistance to farmers in Siddipet affected by heavy rains further increasing my visibility and popularity among poor farmer families,” he said.
“While Goud was in his Panjagutta office, plain cloth policemen raided the premises on April 28 and took him into custody and produced me before Radhakishan Rao, who threatened stating that Harish Rao was angry at me for organising programs in his constituency without his consent.”
Harish Rao offered Goud a chance to live peacefully by agreeing to switch the party affiliation to BRS otherwise he would end his career. “When I refused, Radha Kishan Rao took my phone and took me to CCS police station where two more cases were registered against me. After being arrested, I got a bail later.”
“I was again implicated in a false case at Ghatkesar police station. On August 29, 2023 I received an email from Apple (threat notification @ apple.com) warning me that my Iphone might be targeted by state sponsored attackers. The email stated that such attackers could remotely access my sensitive data, communication, and even my devices microphone or camera. Although, I updated my phone following apple instructions and suspected my phone being tapped but did not take immediate action as I was already dealing with multiple false cases.”
“I aspired to contest the MLA seat from Siddipet on the BJP ticket but when I was not nominated, I joined the BSP party and secured the MLA ticket. During the election campaign I contacted numerous supporters and followers for meetings and rallies, many of them later informed me that they had received threatening calls warning them not to attend my events.”
“These individuals also reported that the caller knew about their conversations and contacted details which led me to suspect that my phone was being tapped. I believe that Harish Rao, using state intelligence resources, was monitoring the moments and activities of my associates and my family members to sabotage my political career and to unlawfully influence the outcome of the elections,” Goud said.
“After the 2023, general assembly elections I learned through media that phone tapping cases were under investigation, given all the above mentioned incidents. I now firmly believe that my and my wife’s were illegally tapped. I suspect that Harish Rao abusing his power as a minister influenced the police officials to monitor my activities,” Goud explained.
“Earlier I represented the above issues and submitted petitions to the police department multiple times. But the Police department did not book case on my petition and did not take any action against the persons who had put surveillance over me, my relatives and my associates and harassed me,” he said
“I have approached the High Court and filed a writ petition seeking directions to the police to book a case and investigate into the matter and do justice to me and my family. In light of the above, I request you to take appropriate legal action against Harish Rao, Radha Kishna Rao and others involved in these unlawful activities by booking a case and investigation into the matter in detail,” Goud added.
