Police ask Kejriwal about judges' phone tap; ask IB, he says

Delhi Police have urged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to share details of the alleged tapping of judges' phones he had spoken about

New Delhi, Nov 4: Delhi Police have urged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to share details of the alleged tapping of judges' phones he had spoken about. "Ask IB, they will tell you," he replied.

Kejriwal threw the bombshell four days ago while addressing a function here to mark 50 years of the Delhi High Court.

At the event, Kejriwal said he was told by some unnamed judges that the telephones of Supreme Court, High Courts and District Courts were being tapped.

The Aam Aadmi Party leader made it clear that he did not know if this was true. "But if it is true, this is very dangerous."

In a letter to Kejriwal, Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Kumar Verma requested him to provide details of the tapping of judges' phones.

"You have reportedly alleged that the phones of judges are being tapped. In fact there are media reports to indicate that you have heard some judges saying so," Verma wrote in his letter.

"As you are aware, phone tapping is an extremely serious matter and is not allowed without due authorization after following strict procedures mandated under law. Therefore, your alluding to the matter raises serious concerns," Verma said.

"Under the circumstances, please let us know of any incident or case of phone tapping that you have referred to in the course of your speech.

"We would also appreciate if you could inform us the source on which you based your allegations, so that appropriate action can be initiated in the matter," Verma added.

In a cryptic tweet to the Delhi Police chief, Kejriwal said on Friday: "Ask IB (Intelligence Bureau). They will tell you."

On the day Kejriwal referred to the phone tapping, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad denied that telephones of judges were being tapped.

IANS