Maha Snoopgate: is it really what the govt claims?, then why no inquiry or police complaint as yet?

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Snoop gate that has hit the headlines over last couple of weeks has created a storm in political circles of the state. Now the ruling party is baying for blood of the officials who held key positions during the last government, and the former chief minister. However, even after tall claims about the alleged phone tapping, interestingly, the government has not initiated inquiry into the matter neither has any alleged victim has lodged any police complaint.

The matter came to limelight when veteran Congress leader Digvijiya Singh, in series of tweets on January 15 claimed that the previous government in Maharashtra intercepted calls of leaders of opposition parties. Singh also claimed that the previous government in Maharashtra almost framed him in the Bhima Koregaon case. After Singh’s tweets, the political corridors in the state were abuzz with speculations. Leaders from the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) went on claiming to be victims of phone tapping by previous government. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut claimed that a senior BJP leader had informed him about phone tapping. Interestingly, despite such a serious allegation, neither Raut nor any other leader has lodged a formal police complaint.

Highly reliable sources told The News 21, “Phone tapping is not a child’s play. There is a rigorous framework to be followed if any phone is to be tapped or kept under surveillance. Every individual case needs approval by Additional Chief Secretary, Home and details of information gathered has to be submitted to the Home Department. Telephone companies do not allow tapping or surveillance without due paperwork and approvals from the Home Department.” According to sources, only three agencies in the state – State Intelligence Department, Crime Branch and ATS – are authorised for surveillance or phone tapping, that too only after due diligence.  

According to Maharashtra Cyber spokesperson, the department does not have any authorisation to undertake such surveillance or phone taping. The DGP, Maharashtra and SID have not allowed any such step by Maharashtra Cyber. Hence tapping the phones of any political personality is out of question.

Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has already denied the allegations and has even dared the government to initiate inquiry into the matter. “All the procurements of Maharashtra Cyber have been through open public tender. The present government can easily verify everything,” he said.

Highly reliable sources said that it is not difficult for the present government to extract each and every detail, which is being associated with the alleged phone tapping of political personalities. “The software in question Pegasus primarily compromised WhatsApp calls and messages. The Chief Minister Uddhav Thacekray can get all the details in no time. Facebook can be instructed to share every minute detail. As far as officials visiting Israel is concerned, the government must initiate inquiry into visits of each and every government official who visited Israel over last five years,” sources said.