Nitin Gadkari dismisses reports of bugging

New Delhi, July 30: As the controversy over alleged bugging of his residence continued, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today insisted that the reports were "false and baseless".

Talking to reporters outside Parliament House, Gadkari said initially it was reported that bugging devices were found at his Delhi residence. But later it was claimed that listening devices were found at his Mumbai residence. "Whatever is being written is false and baseless," he said.

The Minister had earlier also stated that no devices were found at his residence. Congress created an uproar in Rajya Sabha today over reports of Gadkari's telephones being bugged and high powered listening devises being found in his bedroom, forcing two adjournments.

According to a media report, highly sophisticated listening devices were planted at the residence of Gadkari. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had on Sunday said that there should be an investigation into the reports of bugging and asked the government to explain the issue in Parliament.

"If Ministers' houses are bugged, then it is not a good omen. It should be investigated. How can it happen? it should be explained by the Government in the House," he had said.

PTI