Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil has clarified that Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) got notice as a witness to record his statement and not as an accused in a phone tapping case involving IPS officer Rashmi Shukla. "No one has immunity in criminal cases," Patil told the state assembly. However, Fadnavis hit out at the Maha Vikas Aghadi government saying that "I'm not afraid of jail. My father was in prison for two years without any charges. I am not afraid; I will continue to bring out corruption."
“It was a routine exercise, nothing has been done deliberately,” said Walse-Patil. ‘’The police had earlier sent Fadnavis a questionnaire but it was not replied. Last week the police sent him a notice to find out from where he got the information of phone tapping. The government has no intention to deliberately entrap or get him in trouble,’’ he added.
‘’A few months ago, there was an incident in the state where phone tapping was done without permission from the state's State Intelligence Department (SID). Fadnavis had raised the issue in the assembly. The state government had appointed a committee to look into the matter. A case was registered against an unknown person after the committee’s report. After the case is registered, it is the job of the investigating officer to investigate,’’ said the minister. He added that the police have recorded statements of 24 people. According to him, A notice under CrPC Section 160 means the statement can be recorded at home or at the police station, he told the House.
The police have also asked the Union home secretary to share the pen drive (about the alleged corruption in police transfers) given by Fadnavis, he added.
Raising the issue through an adjournment notice in the House, BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said members of the Legislature are protected by privilege and cannot share their sources. The Supreme Court has also upheld this, he added.
Fadnavis, who was present in the House, said when he got the questionnaire a few days ago, he had said he would respond.
The questions asked then were meant for an eyewitness account. But, the questions asked yesterday were meant for an accused, he claimed.
“I was asked -don’t you think you have breached the Official Secrets Act. Is this meant for an eyewitness?” he asked.
“As a whistle blower, I am protected under the Act. I said the transcript (about the alleged scam) with me will be shared with the Union home secretary since he is the competent authority,” Fadnavis said.
“I know who changed the questions and why,” the BJP leader claimed, and said he will continue to fight against corruption.
Fadnavis said during the Emergency, his father was jailed for two years and an aunt for 18 months, without committing any crime.
