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Kerala Kaumudi Online
Wednesday, 12 February 2025 11.51 AM IST

Vigilance dept seeks permission to hack phones of govt officials, public servants

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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Vigilance sought the government's permission to hack the phones of government officials and public servants to unearth corruption and trap bribe-takers. It can also be used to prove cases as courts will hitherto accept digital evidence as prima facie evidence under the new law. At present police, intelligence and crime branches are tapping the phones to trap criminals in cases mostly resorted to national security. Vigilance chief DGP Yogesh Gupta has made a similar request with the government.

In every other state of India, the vigilance is permitted to tap phone calls of people who they doubt to be embroiled in shady business. At the Centre, CBI, ED, Central Board of Direct Taxes and DRI have the power to tap phones. But in Kerala, the vigilance needs to apply for permission from the crime branch. Mostly, the information gets leaked before even getting permission.

Vigilance chief DGP Yogesh Gupta told 'Kerala Kaumudi' that an Officers of Doubtful Integrity (ODI) list will be made to include corrupt officials in all departments and public sector institutions. Their movements and bank transactions will be monitored. Phone calls of Central Service officials like Customs, Excise, Banks etc. will also be monitored.

  • Anyone's phone can be hacked for 7 days without the prior permission of the government. An application must be made to the government within 3 days after tapping.

  • Security threats, law and order problems and other emergencies mostly warrant the need for phone tapping.

  • The Home Secretary can give permission for phone tapping for up to two months. 6 months after obtaining the required information the other information needs to be destroyed.

How Phone tapping works:

  • The police will give a written letter to the service provider

  • Incoming and outgoing conversations will be recorded.

  • Documents can be recovered even after deletion
TAGS: VIGILANCE, YOGESH GUPTA, PHONE TAPPING, KAUMUDI, CRIME BRANCH
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