Vigilance DGP's phone tapping: Crime Branch to probe

Kerala government today informed the Assembly that the Crime Branch would probe the complaints of alleged phone tapping and hacking of emails of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) chief DGP Jacob Thomas.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said tapping of phone calls of politicians and officials was not theCPI(M)-led LDF government's policy and any kind of illegal hacking was an offence.
He was replying to a notice for an adjournment motion by Congress-led UDF opposition over the reported complaint of Thomas to state police chief Loknath Behera that his phone calls were being tapped and emails hacked.
"Jacob Thomas has not raised any such allegation or complaint. He just brought to the notice of DGP about media reports that his phone calls were being tapped and emails hacked and expressed his concern over this," Vijayan said.

Thomas's request was to take action if the allegations were found to be true, he said.
Stating that phone calls were usually tapped by the investigating agencies on matters related to national security and integrity, the Chief Minister said any kind of illegal tapping and hacking was an offence.

Stern action would be taken if anybody violates the rules in this regard, he said.
"The complaint is being viewed with all seriousness.Crime Branch will be entrusted with the probe into it," he added.
Coming out in support of Thomas, who had recently expressed his readiness to quit as Vigilance Director, Vijayan also said that Thomas had not submitted any letter specifically stating that he wants to quit.

"He had just expressed some desires. But government wants such an efficient officer to continue in the post," he said.
Vijayan also made it clear that the government would not interfere with the freedom of the anti-corruption watchdog.
"There will not be any government action that will weaken the functioning of an official like Thomas. He is an officer who wants to carry out his responsibilities properly. The government has given him complete freedom to carry out his duties," he said.
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Seeking to move the adjournment motion, Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said state police has limitations to probe cases related to phone tapping of such a senior official, which he said should be probed by a central agency like Intelligence Bureau.

Before staging a walkout in protest against the Speaker's refusal to give permission to discuss the issue, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that Thomas's phone was tapped with the knowledge of the government.
He also alleged that the official's allegation was actually against the government and Chief Minister, who holds the Home portfolio.
Thomas had recently written to the Chief Minister, seeking his permission to relinquish office, apparently annoyed over the re-surfacing of a report against him on financial irregularities when he was Ports director in 2013-14.
He also recently lodged a complaint with DGP alleging that his phone calls were being tapped and emails hacked.