SC Grants Relief To iNews MD In Phone-Tapping Case

The Supreme Court today granted interim relief to Aruvela Shravan Kumar, Managing Director of the TV channel iNews, in connection with the high-profile phone tapping case.

This decision comes after the Telangana High Court previously denied his anticipatory bail plea, citing his evasion of the law by fleeing to the United States. (Kumar had left the country reportedly for the US over a year back after investigation into the phone-tappings began, and hasn't returned yet.)

The Supreme Court, upon hearing the petition, issued an interim order restraining the police from taking stringent action against Kumar, provided he cooperated fully with the ongoing investigation.

The bench, led by Justice B V Nagarathna, scheduled the next hearing for April 28.

Representing Kumar, senior advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu argued for interim protection from arrest, assuring the court of his client's willingness to cooperate with the investigation. Naidu also said that the police had not issued a single notice under Section 41A of the CrPC to Kumar so far.

Conversely, the State's counsel opposed granting any protection, informing the court that a Red Corner Notice had been issued against Kumar after he had "absconded" to the United States and remained untraceable for a year.

His lawyer assured the court that Kumar would return to India within 48 hours if granted interim protection. Justice Nagarathna too opined that without interim protection Kumar might be deterred from returning to India. The bench then issued an interim order preventing any coercive action against him, and directed that he should come to India and cooperate with the investigation upon receiving a notice.

Kumar is implicated in the alleged illegal surveillance activities that occurred during the tenure of the previous BRS government. He is accused of playing a pivotal role in the unauthorised tapping of phones belonging to some IAS and IPS officers, as well as Telangana High Court judges. The allegations suggest that he provided specific instructions on whose phones should be tapped, and shared sensitive information with officials from the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB).