Snooping row: Guj probe panel to inquire if release of tapes was conspiracy

Gujarat Congress terms constitution of inquiry commission as eyewash

While, the Gujarat Congress termed the two-member inquiry commission constituted by the Narendra Modi government to probe alleged snooping on a woman by police, as an eyewash, the state government today issued terms of reference (ToR) for the panel which has asked to probe if there was any conspiracy behind the release of tapes four years after the alleged incident.

The state government on Monday constituted a two-member commission of inquiry, headed by a retired Gujarat High Court judge Sugna Bhatt and having former additional chief secretary K C Kapoor as member. It will probe the alleged snooping of a woman architect by the state police at the behest of former minister of state for Amit Shah in 2009, and submit report in three months.

Two investigative news portals 'Cobrapost' and 'Gulail.com' had alleged on November 15 that Shah, a close aide of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi had ordered illegal surveillance of a woman at the behest of one 'Saheb'. They had also released taped audio conversations between Shah and Singhal to support their claims. The alleged snooping of a woman has become a major political controversy involving close aide of BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

In the notification of ToR for the commission it has been stated that the commission will inquire "whether the circumstance leading to the release of the audio-tapes after a long gap of four years reveal any conspiracy". Panel will also probe the 'authenticity and veracity of the tapes", whether the incidents as alleged by the web portals actually took place; facts, circumstances, reasons and causes that led to alleged security/surveillance, if any and whether there was any breach of noncompliance with any laid down mandatory legal provisions or process.

Meanwhile the Congress has termed the constitution of probe panel as an eyewash. "A thief who steals, himself decides the investigating officer to nab the accused," Gujarat Congress chief Arjun Modhwadia said, reacting to the constitution of the commission.

"This is nothing by 'Save Modi Commission'. How can one probe charges against himself?" Modhwadia asked.