Phone tapping case: Rashmi Shukla appears before police, denies allegations

Senior IPS officer and former state intelligence chief Rashmi Shukla appeared before the Colaba police on Wednesday morning in connection with the alleged phone tapping case of senior state politicians. According to the sources Shukla denied all the allegations levelled against her.

Shukla who is currently on a central deputation and posted as additional director general of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Hyderabad appeared before the Colaba police at 11 am on Wednesday and left at around 1.30 PM.

Earlier this month, the Colaba police booked her for allegedly tapping phone calls of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and that of NCP leader Eknath Khadse in 2019 when Shukla was state intelligence chief. She was booked under IPC section 165 (public servant obtaining any valuable thing, without consideration, from a person concerned in any proceeding or business transacted by such public servant) and Section 26 of the Telegraph Act.

After the case was registered against her earlier this month Shukla approached the Bombay High Court seeking relief. While granting her relief the court asked her to appear before the Colaba police on March 16 and 23 between 11 am to 1 pm. The HC had restrained the Mumbai police from taking any coercive action against her till April 1.

A similar FIR was also registered against her at Bund Garden police station in Pune for allegedly tapping phone calls of state Congress president Nana Patole, in the case as well the senior IPS officer was granted relief by the HC.

Last year the Cyber police of Mumbai police also recorded her statement in an alleged phone taping case and leak of confidential documents about police transfers, the report prepared by Shukla when she was SID chief was reportedly leaked. The case was registered against unknown persons.