Rajasthan CM’s OSD called by Delhi Police in phone-tapping case

The Rajasthan Chief Minister’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Lokesh Sharma, was questioned by Delhi Police on Monday in relation to a phone-tapping case that originated from the state’s political crisis in July 2020, according to officials.

Lokesh Sharma, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) appears before Delhi Police for questioning

According to a senior official, Lokesh Sharma appeared before the Crime Branch unit of the city police on Monday.

Lokesh Sharma, the OSD to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, had received a notification from the Delhi Police asking him to attend for questioning in the case.

The notification was given out in advance of the Delhi High Court hearing the Crime Branch’s request to vacate an interim ruling stopping coercive measures against Lokesh Sharma.

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Hearing on Crime Branch application and petition by Sharma seeking quashing of FIR on Feb 20

On February 20, there will be a hearing on the Crime Branch plea and a petition filed by Lokesh Sharma to have the FIR against him quashed.

Following a complaint by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the BJP MP from Jodhpur, the Delhi Police filed a FIR against Sharma on March 25, 2021, charging him with criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and illegally intercepting telegraphic signals (telephonic communication).

This is Mr. Sharma’s sixth notice under Section 41.1 (A) of the CrPC, according to sources.

Mr. Sharma has given justifications for missing three additional dates but has already shown up for interrogation twice (on May 14, 2022, and December 6, 2021).

The phone-tapping controversy began during Rajasthan’s political upheaval under Congress rule in July 2020.

In the midst of a revolt against Mr. Gehlot by his then-deputy Sachin Pilot and the 18 party MLAs who were supporting him, audio excerpts of alleged telephone talks between Mr. Shekhawat and Congress leaders surfaced.

It was claimed that Mr. Sharma circulated the supposed video footage about a plot to overthrow the Congress government.

The accusations have been rejected by Mr. Sharma.

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