Phone tapping case: Centre revokes passport of fugitive Prabhakar Rao

Cleared: dk

Hyderabad: In a key development, the Union govt has revoked the passport of T Prabhakar Rao, former SIB chief and a key accused in the phone tapping case reported in 2024. Though the passport was revoked four days ago, it came to light on Wednesday.

The action comes after the Hyderabad police, investigating the case, wrote to the Union home ministry , which recommended the revocation of the passport to the ministry of external affairs . Based on the recommendations, and as per the provisions of the Passport Act, his passport has been revoked, a police officer said.

Revocation of passport makes the passport holder ineligible to travel or leave the country, if the holder is in India. Further, the passport being a bonafide document for citizenship, he would become an illegal resident if he is staying abroad. "We have already communicated the matter to the US authorities. They will initiate action as per their laws," the officer added.

According to the Passport Act, one's passport could be revoked if the holder has any criminal proceedings pending before a court in India.

Four of the six accused in the phone tapping case have already been arrested on different occasions in 2024 and they were granted bail by different courts in 2025. While Prabhakar Rao remains a fugitive, another accused Sravan Rao, MD of a regional news channel who was on the run, arrived in India a month ago, after the Supreme Court granted him relief. He has since then appeared before the investigating authorities in Hyderabad thrice.