Wed Feb 19 16:32:13 UTC 2025: ## Telangana High Court Halts Investigation Against Former Minister, Retired Officer

**Hyderabad, February 19, 2025** – The Telangana High Court has temporarily halted the investigation into a criminal case against former Minister T. Harish Rao of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and retired police officer P. Radha Kishan Rao. Justice K. Lakshman issued the order on Wednesday, granting a stay until March 3rd.

The case stems from a complaint filed by G. Chakradhar Goud, a businessman and former Bahujan Samaj Party candidate, who alleges that Rao and Radha Kishan Rao conspired to implicate him in false cases in 2023. Goud claims his phone was tapped and accuses the pair of extortion, criminal breach of trust, and intimidation. The FIR against them includes charges under sections 120-B, 386, 409, 506, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, as well as violations of the Information Technology Act, 2008.

Harish Rao’s lawyer, Supreme Court senior counsel Sheshadri Naidu, argued that the investigation was being conducted improperly, citing the arrest of three other individuals named in the FIR without due process. He expressed concerns that Harish Rao could face harassment even without formal arrest. The lawyer also alleged that the police were summoning accused individuals repeatedly, obtaining signatures on blank papers—a violation of basic rights.

The court, considering these arguments, ordered the police to cease the investigation until March 3rd. The stay will allow for further consideration of the merits of the case.

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