Didn’t tap phones of Congress MLAs, say Patiala police

SSP says tapping cannot be done without permission of home dept; adds that its paperwork is cumbersome

With the controversy of cellphone tapping of Congress MLAs getting murkier, the Patiala Police have denied their involvement in any such activity.

From left: MLAs Hardial Singh Kamboj (Rajpura), Madan Lal Jalalpur (Ghanaur), Rajinder Singh (Samana) and Nirmal Singh (Shutrana). (HT PHOTO)

This is after Samana Congress MLA Rajinder Singh alleged Patiala police of tapping his phone calls. Samana CIA staff inspector Vijay Kumar, who was accused of phone tapping, has already been transferred.

On Tuesday, during district grievances redressal committee meeting, four Congress MLAs — Hardial Singh Kamboj (Rajpura), Madan Lal Jalalpur (Ghanaur), Rajinder Singh (Samana) and Nirmal Singh (Shutrana) — raised questions over the working of district police.

“No phone tapping is being done of any elected representative. The cop concerned had only recorded call of the MLA’s personal assistant on some occasion and the recording was done by default,” said Patiala senior superintendent of police Mandeep Singh Sidhu.

He added that it requires minute investigation, if any elected representative, irrespective of their party, raises such serious allegations. “We probed the matter before ruling out tapping,” he added.

“Phone tapping is a major thing and involves cumbersome formalities. It cannot be done without approval from home department. There is no chance of tapping, especially of elected representatives,” he said.

However, Rajinder showed his dissatisfaction over Patiala police’s justification. “It is unjustified that police is coming with its own theories on the matter. Leave aside tapping, is it justified or morally correct to record call of any person without their approval or knowledge?” the MLA questioned.