Phones of leaders illegally tapped by central agencies: DMK to ECI

The petition by the DMK to the CEC comes days after AIADMK alleged that the state government was illegally tapping phones of party leaders.

Chennai: Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Tuesday alleged that mobile phones of party candidates, frontline leaders and their friends and relatives are being “tapped illegally” by agencies controlled by the Union government like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax department.

In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, DMK organising secretary R S Bharathi alleged that it has come to the party’s knowledge that the above agencies are “using illegal software” to tap phone conversations to create a “non-level field” in electioneering for the April 19 polls.

“We understand that the Enforcement Directorate, CBI, I-T, and other agencies under the Union government are illegally intercepting the telephones of candidates, our frontline leaders, their friends and close relatives. We cannot be oblivious of the fact that software like Pegasus are said to be used by these agencies against political opponents,” Bharathi said.

He said it was the duty of the ECI to immediately intervene and order an inquiry into the “anti-democratic” actions of the Union government. It is also the duty of the ECI to make public the factum of initiation of such enquiry and the result thereof, the DMK leader said.

“Hence, we earnestly request you to initiate an enquiry into the illegal tapping of phones of the candidates and frontline leaders of the DMK party by the Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Authorities and other investigating agencies of the Union government and ensure free and fair elections,” he added.

The petition by the DMK to the CEC comes days after Tamil Nadu's principal Opposition party AIADMK alleged that the state government was illegally tapping phones of party leaders.