Report Says Snooping Not Confined to Gujarat; Commission likely

Investigative news portal Gulail on Tuesday released a purported audio conversation between Gujarat police officials claiming that website received 39 new tapes related to snoopgate in which state intelligence and police officials illegally intercepted phones and spied on a woman architect.

Investigative news portal Gulail on Tuesday released a purported audio conversation between Gujarat police officials claiming that website received 39 new tapes related to snoopgate in which state intelligence and police officials illegally intercepted phones and spied on a woman architect.

The new tapes, recorded by whistleblower IPS officer G L Singhal, revealed that private mobile service operators willingly facilitated interception on woman architect’s mobile phones without getting proper authorisation from Gujarat Home Secretary and she was also spied on while she was in Bangalore.

The portal claimed that snooping on the instruction of ‘Saheb’ was not confined to Gujarat and a state official had requested the then Karnataka Government to intercept the woman’s local mobile phone. Gulail claimed that the interception and shadowing on the woman architect took place between August and September 2009.

“The letter of request forwarded by the Gujarat Government to Karnataka Government was signed by an Under Secretary. The state government turned down the request seeking State Home Secretary’s authorisation for interception,” Gulail stated. Earlier in November, Gulail and Cobrapost had released taped conversation allegedly between BJP leader Amit Shah and IPS officer G L Singhal. The websites had claimed that illegal surveillance was ordered by Shah at the behest of ‘Saheb’.

Meanwhile, Union Home Ministry has prepared a note in the snoopgate which is likely to be taken up by the Cabinet soon for ordering a Commission of Inquiry in the case.

After Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s approval, the note will be placed before the Cabinet, sources said. Last week, Shinde had confirmed that the Home Ministry was examining the case. “It will be a time-bound probe and Commission will be given maximum three months to submit its report,” sources said.

The Gujarat Government had appointed a two-member commission last month comprising former additional Chief Secretary (Home) K C Kapoor and Justice (retd) Sugnaben Bhatt to look into the matter.

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