Water Resources Minister M.B. Patil on Monday accused Income Tax officials and officials of other central agencies of tapping his and family members’ phones.
He told reporters that though he has long been suspicious that his phone was being tapped, it was “confirmed” now by a team of software experts. “Not only mine, but the phones of my wife, son, the legal expert helping me, and his wife have also been tapped,” he said, adding that he would soon demonstrate to the media how his phone was tapped. He said he would file a complaint after consulting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his other Cabinet colleagues.
He alleged that the Union government had ordered the tapping of phones belonging to Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George, Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Public Works Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, and Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy. “With the elections to the Legislative Assembly just around the corner, the Centre might have directed these investigating agencies to tap my phone as I am a prominent political leader in north Karnataka and am backing [the demand for] religion tag for the Lingayat community,” Mr. Patil said.
In the past, Mr. Reddy and Mr. Siddaramaiah have accused the Centre of tapping phones of Congress leaders.
