SC restrains phone-tapping by Chhattisgarh govt on IPS officer, family

The Supreme Court on Friday restrained the Chhattisgarh government for unlawful phone-tapping and surveillance of the senior police officer Mukesh Gupta and his family members. Furthermore, they granted protection to him from arrest in connection to the cases registered against him. The court sought an explanation from the state for its actions and scheduled the next hearing of the case for November 4.

READ | SC Stays Criminal Trial Against Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel

The alleged phone tapping

Mukesh Gupta who was the director-general of police of the state anti-corruption bureau and the economic offences wing under the previous BJP government had alleged that the Congress-led state government was harassing him. He further alleged and that the state police was tapping phones and conducting surveillance on his daughter and family members in connection with a suicide case of a woman in 2001.

READ | Chhattisgarh CM Baghel Buys 'diyas' Made Of Cow Dung At Raipur Fest

What happened in SC hearing

Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, representing the IPS officer, told the court that the state was illegally intercepting the calls of Gupta, his two daughters, his driver, and Gupta’s friend. Jethmalani alleged that the government was vindictive in how it was proceeding against Gupta, and claimed that the cases against Gupta were falsely implicated. Jethmalani pleaded the court to quash the probe against Gupta.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Chhattisgarh government, said that he had no knowledge of the tapping charges but was willing to give an undertaking that there shall be no phone tapping henceforth. He further said that the IPS officer has filed a similar petition in the High Court (HC) where the plea is pending. The HC has asked the senior police officer to co-operate in the probe, said Rohatgi. He added that Gupta is sailing two boats at the same time by filing petitions in HC and SC, calling it an abuse of law.

READ | Chhattisgarh: Underdeveloped Foetus Found In Infant Girl's Abdomen

About the IPS officer's suspension earlier this year

Gupta along with Superintendent of Police Rajnesh Singh were suspended in February this year after being accused of phone tapping in the multi-crore civil supplies scam. He was also accused of changing the direction of the committee that was formed to probe the civil supplies scam. Gupta and Singh were booked under sections 193 (false evidence), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender), 466 (forgery), 471 (Using as genuine a forged), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and other relevant sections of IPC and under provisions of Indian Telegraph Act.

READ | Terrorists Shoot Chhattisgarh Labourer Dead In Jammu And Kashmir