By IANS,
Shimla: Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh Saturday demanded the registration of a case against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on the “phone tapping” issue and termed it a fit case to be investigated by a central agency.
“It’s a serious issue, a fit case to be investigated by a central agency like the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) or the IB (Intelligence Bureau) as high-ranking people like the chief minister and the vigilance chief (D.S. Manhas) are involved. We (the Congress) have demanded the registration of an FIR against the chief minister and the suspension of Manhas,” Virbhadra Singh told reporters here.
“The Congress has nothing to do with the CDs. The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) is expert in making CDs. It seems it’s their in-house matter (released of the CDs),” he said on the release of three CDs – two audio and one video – here Jan 19.
The CDs were sent to select journalists, legislators and high court judges through a courier service. One audio CD allegedly has Dhumal purportedly directing Manhas to tap the phones of Virbhadra Singh and his wife Pratibha Singh. The couple was booked Aug 3, 2009, under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the case is being investigated by Manhas.
“They (the state government) are carrying out surveillance on us… where we go, who is coming to meet us. But the government is denying any such act. Now (after the release of the audio CD) these things have been proved correct.
“In democracy it’s our right that nobody can tap our phones and censor our postal letters unless permission is sought under rule of law,” the minister said.
He accused the state government of being vindictive against the Congress leaders and activists.
He also ridiculed the government’s decision to entrust the inquiry into the authenticity of audio CDs to the Crime Investigation Department (CID).