Hyderabad Police Arrest Suspended DSP D Praneet Rao for Destroying Computer Systems and Official Data

Hyderabad Police arrested suspended deputy superintendent of police D Praneet Rao for allegedly destroying computer systems and official data of the Special Intelligence Bureau.

In a significant development, the Hyderabad Police arrested suspended deputy superintendent of police of the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB), D Praneet Rao, on Wednesday, March 13, for allegedly destroying certain computer systems and official data. The arrest comes after a complaint was filed against Rao and others by an additional superintendent of police of the SIB on March 10.

Background of the Case

Rao, who served as a DSP during the previous BRS dispensation, was suspended by the Telangana government and was working in the office of the Director General of Police (DGP) at the time of the incident. The complaint against him and others pertains to the alleged destruction of computer systems and official data of the SIB, including information obtained clandestinely and illegally in collusion with others for personal gain.

Charges Against Rao and Others

The charges against Rao and others include criminal breach of trust by a public servant, causing disappearance of evidence, and criminal conspiracy. They are accused of developing profiles of certain individuals and monitoring them, causing the disappearance of physical and electronic records of the SIB, and copying intelligence information into personal drives.

Investigation and Arrest

Based on the complaint, a case was registered against Rao and others at the Panjagutta police station. The investigation conducted so far revealed prima facie evidence against Rao, leading to his apprehension on Tuesday from his residence in Rajanna-Sircilla district. He was subsequently arrested on Wednesday and produced before a court, which remanded him to 14-day judicial custody.

Ongoing Investigation

The Hyderabad Police have stated that further investigation in the case is underway. The arrest of Rao and the ongoing probe highlight the seriousness with which the authorities are treating the allegations of destruction of official data and breach of trust by a public servant.