The Supreme Court of India on Friday, January 16, 2026, expressed its intent to make absolute the interim bail granted to former IPS officer T. Prabhakar Rao. He is a prime accused in the Telangana phone tapping case. The court questioned the State of Telangana, asking if the real plan is to keep Mr. Rao in jail until he breaks down. Justice B.V. Nagarathna addressed senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, saying, "He was in police custody for two weeks after his surrender. He has been cooperating with the investigation. Your interrogation of him is over… Your investigation is over. We will make the interim relief granted to him absolute." When Mr. Luthra strongly objected, the judge said, "We have a feeling you want him to be in jail till he breaks down." Mr. Luthra replied, "We are on the law, we are not after him." Mr. Rao had approached the Supreme Court after the Telangana High Court refused anticipatory bail on May 3, 2025. He had left for the U.S. in March 2024 after an FIR was filed against a group of police officers from the Special Intelligence Branch. They were accused of illegally intercepting private calls of political leaders, bureaucrats, and judiciary members during the previous BRS regime. Mr. Rao was the head of the officers, accused also of trying to erase electronic evidence. On May 29, 2025, the Supreme Court gave him protection from arrest if he cooperated with the investigation, extending this protection several times until December 11, 2025. On December 11, 2025, the Supreme Court ordered Mr. Rao to surrender for custodial interrogation on the investigation agency’s plea. His custody was extended till December 25, but he was ordered to be released on December 26 with no coercive action allowed after release. On January 16, 2026, Mr. Luthra asked the court to consider legal questions raised by the state, such as whether a person living overseas can apply for anticipatory bail. Justice Nagarathna reminded the state that the December 11 surrender and custody order was an interim measure to assist investigation and said, "We will not let you use our order beyond what it was meant for." Mr. Luthra asked to be heard on these legal issues before a full decision. The court fixed March 10, 2026, for a detailed hearing of the case.