Minister orders cops to probe 145;transcript leakage146;

A day after news reports revealed that Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Siddharam Mhetre8217;s name figures in the transcript of a ph...

A day after news reports revealed that Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Siddharam Mhetre8217;s name figures in the transcript of a phone conversation between underworld don Chhota Rajan and his aide D K Rao, the minister today said he was ready for any investigation.

He also said he had directed the police to inquire into the 8220;leakage of the transcript8221;. He has met Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and is planning to meet Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister R R Patil in this regard.

In the conversation, tapped by the Mumbai Police on September 29, 2005, Rao8212;currently lodged in Arthur Road Jail8212;is quoted as saying that a deal to reinstate 12 suspended police officers had taken place in Mhetre8217;s house.

The transcript was submitted to the MCOCA court on February 14.

Terming the episode as smacking of 8220;political mischief8221;, the minister said: 8220;People eyeing my post are responsible for spreading this rumour.8221;

Sources close to Mhetre said he is caught in a cold war between two rival camps in the Congress party.

Mhetre said: 8220;A police officer had told me that these gangsters are used to name-dropping. In this tape too, Rao names a public prosecutor, top cops, judges and other high-profile people.8221;

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He also said that he didn8217;t have the power to reinstate or even transfer any officer. Mhetre has been surrounded by controversies ever since he became a minister.

8220;It is not the first time that such allegations have been levelled against me. Before every Assembly session, my rivals always resort to such gimmicks. Earlier also I was accused of distributing protocol passes. On the contrary, I had recommended a ban on such passes. Then it was alleged that one of my staffers was charged with asking money from a dancing joint owner but it was found that there was no such person in my staff,8221; Mhetre said.