<p>Disqualified MLA A H Vishwanath on Wednesday demanded a thorough inquiry into telephone tapping case that reported in the state during the tenure of erstwhile JD(S)-Congress coalition government.</p>.<p>In a press conference here, Vishwanath alleged that then Chief Minister's office was misused for phone tapping and it was a crime.</p>.<p>Vishwanath said phones of all the 17 rebel MLAs were tapped. According to him, a total of 300 personal phones were tapped.</p>.<p>He also said there was a threat from then CM's office for the rebel MLAs. They had threatened of releasing the phone conversations of the MLAs if they failed to support the then government.</p>.<p>Vishwanath blamed then Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy of involving in the crime. He had no confidence in his own party men and coalition partners and thus tapped phones.</p>.<p>Congress leader H K Patil and BJP leader R Ashoka were hinted about the crime six months back, he said.</p>.<p>Recalling similar cases, Vishwanath said Ramakrishna Hegde, the former chief minister resigned from the position in connection with phone tapping case. There is a need for stringent action against the accused, the former JD(S) state president demanded.</p>
<p>Disqualified MLA A H Vishwanath on Wednesday demanded a thorough inquiry into telephone tapping case that reported in the state during the tenure of erstwhile JD(S)-Congress coalition government.</p>.<p>In a press conference here, Vishwanath alleged that then Chief Minister's office was misused for phone tapping and it was a crime.</p>.<p>Vishwanath said phones of all the 17 rebel MLAs were tapped. According to him, a total of 300 personal phones were tapped.</p>.<p>He also said there was a threat from then CM's office for the rebel MLAs. They had threatened of releasing the phone conversations of the MLAs if they failed to support the then government.</p>.<p>Vishwanath blamed then Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy of involving in the crime. He had no confidence in his own party men and coalition partners and thus tapped phones.</p>.<p>Congress leader H K Patil and BJP leader R Ashoka were hinted about the crime six months back, he said.</p>.<p>Recalling similar cases, Vishwanath said Ramakrishna Hegde, the former chief minister resigned from the position in connection with phone tapping case. There is a need for stringent action against the accused, the former JD(S) state president demanded.</p>