Kumaraswamy’s phone tapping allegations: LoP in Karnataka assembly R Ashoka demands CBI probe

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BJP leader Ashoka’s demand

Talking to reporters, he said that such phone tapping machines, made in China, are illegally available at ₹40-50 lakhs and that they might have been used.

“The government is saying it has not tapped phones. Then how many such (phone tapping) machines have come to Karnataka? When did they come? In whose house they are there? If these things are probed and made known, everything will come out,” he added.

Related: Karnataka JD(S) chief HD Kumaraswamy urges nephew Prajwal Revanna to surrender, says his phone is being tapped

Stating that some senior police officials have told him that during certain situations, the phones of opposition leaders are tapped, Ashoka, who has served as Home Minister in the past said, if the government has not tapped the phones, let it order a probe regarding such illegal tapping machines in the state and seize them, “so it is known who are behind it.”

“Kumaraswamy has said based on the information he has. Whoever it is, tapping phones is an unpardonable offence, such people should be put behind bars…..if the government is not involved in tapping, then they should order a CBI probe into the allegations.

“As the machines have come from abroad, local police can’t do it. Let them give it to the CBI and let the truth come out,” he added.

HD Kumaraswamy’s allegation

While appealing to his nephew and Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna – who has been accused of sexual assault of several women – to surrender, the Karnataka JD(S) chief levelled a serious allegation against the Congress government in the state.

He said the state government was tapping his phone as well as the phones of around 40 other people. Kumaraswamy told reporters: “The government is tapping the phones of everyone around me, including Revanna’s phone. Even my phone is also being tapped.”

He added: “This government has concluded that our family should be finished politically. It was revealed in the audio tapes itself.”

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Ruling Congress denies allegations

Responding to the allegations, both Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and Home Minister Earlier in the day, Home Minister G Parameshwara reiterated that the government had not tapped the phones of Kumaraswamy and others, as claimed.

“If he (Kumaraswamy) has accurate information that it has been done, let him give the information, and we will get it investigated as to who has done it and why,” said the Home Minister.

(Edited by Neena with PTI inputs)