Cops reach Fadnavis' south Mumbai home to record statement in phone tapping case

Police have beefed up security outside senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis’ south Mumbai residence and the BKC cyber police station.

A team of the Mumbai Police’s cyber cell reached the residence of the leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly and former chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, on Sunday to record his statement in the transfer posting case.

Cyber cell officers arrive at the official bungalow of Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai on Sunday. (Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo)

A day ago, the senior BJP leader said he had been asked to appear before police and record his statement in a case of alleged illegal tapping of phones and he would visit the BKC cyber police station on Sunday for the same. Later, he said a senior police officer called to inform him that police officers will visit his residence to take the required information and there was no need for him to visit the police station.

Earlier in the day, police beefed up security outside Fadnavis’ south Mumbai residence and the BKC cyber police station, a PTI report said.

Since a police team will go to the BJP leader's residence in Malabar Hill area, party supporters may assemble there and outside the BKC cyber police station, hence additional police personnel, including women, were deployed at both the places, an official said.

Last month, Maharashtra home Minister Dilip Walse Patil said phones of political leaders, including state Congress chief Nana Patole, minister Bachchu Kadu, former MLA Ashish Deshmukh, former MP Sanjay Kakade and others were tapped illegally by IPS officer Rashmi Shukla, when she was the state intelligence chief.

"In the notice issued to Fadnavis, police have said that questionnaires were earlier sent to him in sealed envelopes in connection with the case, but he did not respond to them. Besides, notices were also issued to him twice to seek his reply, but he had again failed to reply," the official said.

In addition to this, three letters were sent to Fadnavis, reminding him to appear before the police. However, he had failed to give any reply, he said.

A case was registered under the Official Secrets Act at the BKC cyber police station here last year against unidentified persons for allegedly illegally tapping phones and leaking confidential documents. The complaint was lodged by the State Intelligence Department (SID). However, before the FIR was registered, the then Maharashtra chief secretary Sitaram Kunte had alleged in his inquiry report that Shukla had leaked the confidential report.

(With agency inputs)