Snooping row: Suspended IAS officer seeks CBI probe against Modi, says Gujarat CM was scared of him

New Delhi: Suspended IAS officer Pradeep Sharma, who has been fighting a legal battle against Narendra Modi government, on Saturday pleaded with the apex court to order a CBI probe against the Gujarat Chief Minister in the snooping controversy saying it was done illegally.

Sharma urged the court to take cognisance of audio tapes aired by news portals saying it contains proof of how the state government had tried to frame him in 'frivolous' cases.

"Take on record the documents and transcripts annexed with the instant application and direct CBI to register a case and conduct a thorough inquiry into the violation of the Telegraph Act 1885 and other applicable laws by Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and any other such persons," he said in his application filed in the apex court.

He submitted he is being victimised as he had the knowledge of the alleged intimacy shared by Modi with a young lady architect and also because his younger brother Kuldip Sharma, a senior IPS officer in the state, has 'unmasked' many 'misdeeds' of Modi government since Godhra riots.

Sharma, a 1984 batch IAS officer, is facing six criminal cases including a case for alleged irregularity in land allotment to private firms in Kutch district in 2008. He sought that the probe in these cases be handed over to CBI.

"The said tapes/transcripts reveal a strong bias and prejudice of the state of Gujarat against him and the state’s intent to somehow implicate him in criminal offences," he said adding "these transcripts now present an ex post facto confirmation of his apprehension".

Speaking to ANI later, the IAS officer said, "Modi thought I had the proof which could curtail his rise. He was scared."

"The woman was an architect. CM became close to her through emails, then messages,as I had introduced her she used to tell me. I directly blame Modi and Amit Shah for this. Shah has a criminal setup.

"I am 100 per cent sure that other officers in Gujarat are being spied on too. IAS officers know this and that is why they carry 2 to 3 phones with them," Sharma added.

Sharma, who last served as Bhavnagar Municipal Commissioner, was arrested on January 6, 2010 in a case involving alleged irregularities in Kutch earthquake rehabilitation. The IAS officer in his petition, however, alleged he is being targeted by Modi government.

"The petitioner happens to be the brother of Kuldip Sharma who has unmasked many misdeeds of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, the ex-Home Minister, since the 2002 Godhra riots.

"The two siblings have been very close to each other right from childhood and share very strong fraternal bonds. In order to cause prejudice to Kuldip Sharma, the petitioner has been victimised by Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah," the petition said.

Next: Come clean on snooping charges, CPI tells Modi

Come clean on snooping charges, CPI tells Modi

New Delhi: CPI on Saturday demanded a judicial probe into the case of alleged illegal surveillance of a woman by official agencies in Gujarat, saying that Chief Minister Narendra Modi should come clean on the charges.

"Modi should come clean on the charges of snooping on a woman in Gujarat," the party Central Secretariat said in a statement here. "Snooping is different from providing security", CPI further stated in reference to BJP's claims that the surveillance was being done to protect the woman.

Demanding a thorough judicial inquiry into the "objectionable act", CPI said that, "the nation wants to know the truth behind snooping on a young woman upon the orders of the Chief Minister of the state.

"The role of Amit Shah, who is notoriously famous for his involvement in the fake encounter cases, also should be transparent in this case," CPI added. The party also strongly condemned the reception given by BJP in Agra to two of its legislators who have been charge- sheeted in the Muzaffarnagar communal riots cases.

"BJP is directly insulting the memory of the innocents who were killed, injured... by honouring those (leaders). The real face of BJP is exposed with this shameful act of honouring the accused," it alleged in a statement.

It also asked Modi as to the reason for his silence on the government's decision to double gas prices, alleging that the move was "intended to help a particular corporate company".

"People are appalled to know that both BJP and Congress work in favour of corporate interests, allowing them to loot the nation at will," CPI said.

Priya Dutt questions Modi's 'silence' on snooping row

Vadodara: Congress MP Priya Dutt on Saturday questioned the 'silence' of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi over the snooping row involving a young woman.

Here to attend social media training camp of Congress, Dutt said, "Modi's silence over the alleged illegal surveillance of a woman by state agencies is difficult to understand. Why does he not break his silence on this issue despite the demands by various women's organisations?"

A sitting judge of the Supreme Court should probe the mater, Dutt said, adding that Gujarat government should initiate a probe on its own. Dutt also condemned the alleged sexual assault by Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal on a female colleague, and welcomed the Goa police's probe.