Chennai police probing alleged spying on Tamil activists by IPL

The Chennai police's cyber crime cell has initiated a probe into a complaint by P Pugalenthi, a lawyer based here. Pugalenthi had alleged the Indian Premier League (IPL) management had hired a private detective to spy on Tamil activists, as well as those involved in agitations demanding justice for Eelam Tamils and protests against the participation of Sri Lankan cricketers in IPL.

In his complaint to the commissioner of police, Pugalenthi, advocate and secretary of the Tamil Nadu Peoples Rights' Forum, said, "I have got credible information that Gorki Chandola, on behalf of a private security agency, has been camping in Chennai and indulging in espionage."

Calls and messages to Sundar Raman, chief executive of IPL, went unanswered. When contacted, Chandola said, "I am based out of Chandigarh. I really don't know anything about it (the complaint) and I have not seen anything as well…Can't comment anything about it."

Meanwhile, based on Pugalenthi's complaint, a first information report (FIR) was filed by the Chennai police's cyber crime cell, a copy of which is available with Business Standard. The FIR stated the case was registered with the central crime branch's cyber crime cell, which had up the matter for investigation.

Gorki Chandola was named in the FIR's known/suspected/unknown accused column.

The complaint was registered under the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008, and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1993.

Pugalenthi alleged Chandola was in possession of 'off-the-air' monitoring equipment and was monitoring phone conversations of Tamil activists, student leaders, political leaders, advocates, journalists and a few police officers. He had also engaged the services of some retired police officers to spy on student leaders, as well as Tamil group leaders, the complaint stated.

Indulging in espionage activities and interception of phone calls without due authorisation is a criminal offence, punishable under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933. Possession of equipment capable of interception requires a licence and unauthorised interception by any mode is a criminal offence, amounting to violation of the right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu government had said it wouldn't allow IPL matches involving Sri Lankan players and umpires to be held in Chennai, citing the recent agitations against the Sri Lankan government in the state. Agitators, including political parties and students, had alleged the Sri Lankan government had violated human rights during its crackdown on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in that country.