The Supreme Court has granted interim protection against arrest to Aruvela Shravan Kumar, Managing Director of a Telugu media outlet, in connection with the illegal phone tapping case during the tenure of the BRS Government in Telangana. This decision allows Kumar to travel from the United States to India to participate in the ongoing investigation.
Background of the Case
The Telangana High Court had previously taken suo moto cognizance of the phone tapping case, emphasizing that it was not merely a privacy issue but a matter of "national security." The illegal surveillance allegedly targeted bureaucrats and even High Court judges, raising serious concerns.
A Special Leave Petition (SLP) challenging the Telangana High Court’s denial of anticipatory bail to Kumar was presented before a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma. The High Court had earlier refused to grant relief to Kumar, leading him to approach the apex court.
Read Also:- Supreme Court Sets Legal Precedent on Acquittal of Innocent Bystanders in Group Clashes
Senior Advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu, appearing for Kumar, urged the court to issue a notice on the SLP and grant interim protection. However, the counsel representing the State of Telangana strongly opposed this request, stating that a red-corner notice had already been issued against Kumar.
In response, Naidu argued:
"Mylords, I have written to them. I am always available. They have not sent even one notice to me under Section 41A [CrPC]."
The state’s counsel countered by asserting that Kumar had been absconding for a year. When questioned about the necessity of immediate arrest, the state counsel admitted that Kumar could not be arrested at the moment as he was currently residing in the US.
Justice Nagarathna noted that extradition proceedings should be initiated if needed but emphasized that granting interim protection might actually be beneficial for the state. She reasoned that such protection would ensure Kumar's return to India to comply with legal proceedings.
"We tell you one thing, if we don't give him protection now, he will never come to India. Let him come... Suppose he receives a notice that he has to come for investigation, he must land in India," remarked Justice Nagarathna.
Read Also:- Supreme Court Contempt Petition Filed Against Punjab Officials Over Farmers' Eviction
The Court, in its order, observed:
"In the circumstances above, we find it just and proper to grant interim protection to the petitioner till the next date of hearing, provided that the petitioner cooperates with the investigation. It is needless to state that in the event the petitioner is given a fixed date and time to appear before the concerned investigating officer, he shall do so and comply with the said order, subject to the time required for his travel back to India."
Senior Advocate Naidu assured the court that Kumar would return to India within 48 hours in compliance with the order.
This is not the first instance where the Supreme Court has intervened in this case. In January, the same bench granted bail to Mekala Thirupathanna, a suspended police officer and a co-accused in the matter.
The phone tapping scandal first came to public attention in December 2023, shortly after Congress won the Telangana state elections. A special bench at the High Court, comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Vinod Kumar, took up the issue following a report in the Deccan Chronicle. The report claimed that in addition to targeting political rivals, the illegal surveillance also included High Court judges.
The Court will hear the matter on April 28.
Case Details: ARUVELA SHRAVAN KUMAR RAO Vs THE STATE OF TELANGANA| SLP(Crl) No. 3627/2025
