State government trying to frame me, claims Fadnavis

Speaking in the state legislative assembly on Monday, Fadnavis said that the questionnaire sent by the police earlier had been altered in an attempt to frame him and make him an accused in the case

Mumbai A day after the leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis was questioned by the Mumbai police in connection to the phone-tapping and corruption in transfers of police officials, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) charged that the former chief minister was being targeted by the state government.

Speaking in the state legislative assembly, Fadnavis said that there was a “qualitative difference” in the questionnaire that had been sent to him earlier and the questions that had been asked to him by the police (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT PHOTO)

Speaking in the state legislative assembly on Monday, Fadnavis said that the questionnaire sent by the police earlier had been altered in an attempt to frame him and make him an accused in the case.

However, home minister Dilip Walse Patil said that the notice had been served to Fadnavis by the police “not as an accused, but as a source of information” as part of these investigations. He added that this questioning was part of a routine procedure and the government had no intention of involving Fadnavis in any criminal case.

Speaking in the state legislative assembly, Fadnavis said that there was a “qualitative difference” in the questionnaire that had been sent to him earlier and the questions that had been asked to him by the police on Sunday.

“I was asked if I have breached Official Secrets Act. Do you ask such questions to a witness? This made me realise that someone purposely changed the previous questionnaire which was meant for a witness and tried to examine if I could be trapped or made an accused or co-accused...I know who changed the questions and where,” he alleged, adding that these questions had a political slant.

“The real question is if things will take place as per the law in this state,” said BJP legislator Ashish Shelar earlier. “He was served notice as a witness... and asked what kind of questions? Have you violated the provisions of the Official Secrets Act?” charged Shelar. “The power-drunk behaviour of some in the government is apparent,” claimed former minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil (BJP).

However, Walse Patil denied this. “Phones were tapped through the SID in the wrong manner and without taking permissions. The leader of the opposition raised a question about this phone tapping in the house and even before he did so, the state government had formed a committee to probe this. After this committee submitted its report, an FIR was lodged against unknown persons. The probe was being conducted by an investigating officer and the statements of 24 people were recorded. Under Section 160 of the CRPC, the investigating officer has the right to summon anyone for information,” said Patil, adding that Fadnavis had been served notices multiple times.

Patil said that the probe covered how the SID data was leaked and the investigators had also written to the union home secretary seeking the pen drive that Fadnavis had handed over to him. “To complete the circle (of investigations), the information had to be taken from the leader of the opposition. Even if the police ask any questions, it is the prerogative of the individual to give the replies that he wants. This (investigation) is routine,” the home minister added while stating that no one had immunity in criminal cases. He added that he had not seen the questions.

Patil on Monday replied to the debate on the law and order situation in the state in the legislative Assembly and said that the veracity of the tapes and the allegations needed to be investigated.

“The entire issue needs to be investigated to find out who is behind it and who needs to be punished. We are handing over the case to CID for further investigation. Chavan has submitted his resignation as the special public prosecutor in the case and it has been accepted by the government,” he said.

The minister said that the case was related to the infighting between two groups over the control of an educational institution. He said that like the recordings in the tapes submitted by Fadnavis, there was a tape of the conversation of the head of another group controlling the institution in which he says Mahajan was ready to give ₹1 crore to give up the control over

“I am not saying that the tape was authentic but the political parties need to decide to was extend we stoop to settle the political scores. Fadnavis said that the case was registered in Jalgaon when it had actually taken place in Pune. Let me remind him the case of the death of Sushant Singh Rajput which was registered in Bihar, though it took place in Mumbai,” he said.