Panel to probe if officials involved in interception followed procedures

Chief minister Ashok Gehlot has constituted a three-member review committee headed by the chief secretary to find the truth into the alleged phone tapping cases during the previous BJP government. 

Principal secretary law and principal secretary agriculture would be the other two members of the committee. The additional DG (intelligence), additional DG (ATS/SOG) and IG Range-I have also been asked to assist the committee.

The decision comes more than a week after DNA carried a news report mentioning how more than 100 phones, including those of many high profile persons, were tapped by the police during Raje government in violation of the provisions of law.  

The committee would find out if the officials involved in the interception of phones have followed the procedures laid down under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1855, Indian Telegraph Rules, 1999 and Indian Telegraph Rules, 2007. 

An official with the chief minister office stated here on Monday that Gehlot has directed that in the eventuality of any violation, strict action should be taken against the guilty. 

The constitution of the review committee to probe into the phone tapping cases by the chief minister has come after DNA raised the issue of flouting of rules in the phone tapping by the then BJP government.  

Notably, the then BJP ministers themselves had raised the issue of phone-tapping during the BJP rule in Rajasthan and one of the then cabinet ministers of the BJP had also complained of being spied.  

BJP dissident and Gurjar leader Prahlad Gunjal, who had also alleged that his phone was intercepted, has demanded a CBI probe into the matter and is going to move the high court on the issue.  

Chief minister Gehlot too had raised the issue during the earlier Assembly session and had proposed to bring out the truth and to punish the guilty in accordance with the law. 

A step in the right direction 

Chief secretary will head the panel. Principal secretary, law, and principal secretary, agriculture, would be the other two members of the committee. 

DNA Correspondent/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication