Phone-tapping accused T’gana ASP remanded in DA case

Nayini Bhujanga Rao, a suspended additional superintendent of police (ASP) in Telangana, has been remanded to 14-day judicial custody following his arrest by the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in a disproportionate assets case. The arrest occurred late Wednesday, with the ACB producing him before a special court for ACB cases in Hyderabad on Thursday.

Bhujanga Rao is also a key figure in a high-profile phone-tapping case that allegedly took place during the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government. His current legal troubles stem from a day-long search conducted by the ACB across 16 locations linked to him, as they investigated allegations of disproportionate assets.

Following mandatory medical examination, Bhujanga Rao was taken to Chanchalguda jail. The ACB searches, which included his residence in Sairam Towers, Hafeezpet, and another house in Vanasthalipuram, along with properties of relatives and alleged benami transactions across Nalgonda, Suryapet, and Sangareddy districts, yielded significant findings. Officials discovered documents for 27.29 acres of agricultural land, five open plots, two houses, and one commercial building in Hyderabad.

Further assets uncovered included approximately ₹3.83 lakh in cash, bank balances totaling ₹8 lakh, and about one kilogram of gold ornaments. The ACB also identified a Maruti Swift and a KIA Seltos car. The total estimated value of these assets stands at ₹5.92 crore, though officials believe the market value could be considerably higher than the documented figures. Notably, all identified assets were reportedly acquired before Bhujanga Rao's suspension from service.

Bhujanga Rao was suspended nearly two years ago, in March 2024, after his arrest in the phone-tapping case. He faced charges including criminal breach of trust, mischief, destruction of evidence, and criminal conspiracy, alongside violations of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and Information Technology Act. He spent approximately nine months in prison before being granted bail by the high court on January 30, 2025.

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After the mandatory medical examination, he was before the ACB court on Thursday morning and remanded to judicial custody. He was later sent to Chanchalguda jail.