Phone tapping row: Day after Sitaram Kunte submitted report to Uddhav Thackeray, Mumbai Police files FIR against unknown accused

The Mumbai police on Friday registered a First Information Report (FIR) in the phone tapping row in the purportedly transfers-for-bribe scandal; the development came a day after state Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte submitted his report on police transfers to the state government.

In his report Kunte has said that it is suspected the report may have been leaked by the then State Intelligence Department (SID) commissioner Rashmi Shukla. The offence has been registered on a complaint of SID officials against an unknown accused who obtained the confidential documents, in violation of specific provisions of the Telegraph act, the Information Technology Act, along with section 5 of the Official Secrets act.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Cyber wing will probe the case. In his 'fact-finding' report, Kunte has said, despite stamping the letter as TOP SECRET, Shukla seems to have leaked the letter, which is very serious matter. If it is proved, she will be liable for strictest action. In his report he also mentioned that, when the report was submitted to the government, there was no pen drive accompanying the report.

The report further stated that Shukla had sought permission for call interception, citing terror activities and threat to the nation but tapped phones of politicians, misusing the permission. As per the report Shukla had already apologised to the CM and the state home minister.