CHENNAI : The opposition AIADMK has submitted a petition to the Election Commission of India, alleging illegal tapping of phones of opposition leaders, particularly those associated with the AIADMK, by the state intelligence officials.
A petition submitted by the party’s advocate wing secretary I S Inbadurai to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said that they have been informed that Senthivelan, IG, state intelligence wing, has been using an illegal phone interception/hacking software manufactured by an Israeli firm to target opposition leaders in Tamil Nadu. To substantiate his charge, he cited recent news reports from foreign media that stated that a Pegasus-like software is being used in India to target select people.
He further added that they (AIADMK functionaries) have been specifically informed that the state intelligence has procured the said software, which costs around Rs. 40 crore, as an off-the-books purchase. The state intelligence is monitoring the mobile phones of the AIADMK party’s senior leaders, their assistants, and drivers. He further said the IG of state intelligence is passing on the information about the AIADMK’s electoral strategies to CM MK Stalin frequently.
Inbadurai urged the CEC and CEO to take decisive action against the IG to uphold the integrity of the state’s electoral process and ensure a level-playing field for all parties.