Snooping row: Commission by Modi govt to check authenticity and possible conspiracy

Gujarat govt will investigate into the alleged snooping on a woman architect in 2009.

Authenticity,veracity and controversy behind tap release will be among the total six terms of reference that the two-member commission set up by the Gujarat Government will investigate into the alleged snooping on a woman architect by the state administration in 2009 as stated by the investigative portals.

Notification in connection with inquiry commission chaired by High Court Justice (retired) Sugna Bhatt,with former additional chief secretary K C Kapoor as member,was released by the state government on Tuesday,a day after it made announcement about its formation.

The panel was announced,two days after suspended IAS officer Pradeep Sharma in a plea to the Supreme Court had demanded a CBI investigation into the released tapes allegedly airing conversations of Amit Shah with suspended IPS officer G L Singhal instructing him to stalk a woman architect and Sharma.

The notification says that a commission has been constituted after certain news have appeared in print and electronic media quoting certain audio tapes published on web portals cobrapost.com and gulali.com regarding some alleged incident of security/surveillance of a woman in Gujarat in 2009 of quoting certain audio tapes. The first two terms of reference for the commission mentioned in the notification are to inquire into authenticity and veracity of the said tapes and the incident of surveillance/security actually took place. The other four includes whether circumstances leading to the release of audio tapes after gap of four years reveal any conspiracy and what were the objective considerations while arranging discreet security to a woman.

Besides,the panel will also look into whether any breach or non-compliance with any laid down legal provisions and administrative procedures were in the process and the facts and circumstances that led to alleged security/surveillance,if any,and steps taken by the government agencies.