No response to phone tapping issue; Governor to inform President

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Arif Mohammad Khan's letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to immediately inform him what action has been taken on the revelation that the phones of the chief minister, ministers and media persons were tapped illegally, is yet to receive a response from the government.

The letter was sent on September 10, but there has been no response even after 20 days. If an explanation is not given, the governor will include this in the report on the general situation in the state, which is sent to the President every month. The Governor sends monthly reports to the Prime Minister, Vice-President and Home Minister also.

The governor said the allegation of PV Anvar MLA that the phones of the chief minister, ministers, political leaders and media persons were tapped under the leadership of ADGP MR Ajith Kumar is serious and demanded an inquiry into the matter as it is a threat to national security. Anvar's revelation that he had tapped the phone using the software is also serious.

A case has been registered against Anvar in Kottayam.

The crime is that the phone details of top officials of the state and others were tapped or made by someone else to tap it, by illegally hacking into the telecommunication system, affecting public safety. According to the FIR, this was publicly disclosed through the visual media and other mediums and an attempt was made to create hatred and fear among the public and deliberately to create riots. This section carries a jail term of up to one year and a fine.