‘Phones of opposition leaders, ministers being tapped’

Leader of the opposition Eknath Khadse and his colleague from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sudhir Mungantiwar on Wednesday revealed in the state assembly information they have procured about tapping of phones belonging to key political leaders and ministers in the state.

The opposition alleged that the tapping was facilitated by private cellular companies.

Quoting information he received from a senior police officer, Mungantiwar said that the phones of leaders from the opposition parties as well as ministers and leaders of ruling parities are being tapped.

Khadse said that his phone was being tapped four months ago. He had lodged a complaint with the director general of police. “No action has been taken against the complaint. The government should take the matter seriously, as no phone can be tapped without the consent of the holder,” he said.

In another discussion, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) group leader Bala Nandgaonkar presented a book containing sensitive information about security cover given to VIPs, including a detailed break-up of the security persons and the weapons in the cover.

He said that the booklet has the names of top leaders, including the chief minister, the chiefs of the Shiv Sena, the MNS and the BJP and key ministers.

If it fell into wrong hands, it would pose a serious threat to internal security.

Home minister RR Patil said he had taken serious cognisance of both issues raised. “The home department has not given permission to tap the phones of any political leader. The law regarding phone tapping is strict. The right to permit this lies with the additional chief secretary of the home department. The department will investigate if any phone was being tapped.”