Just a day after crucial parts of Karnataka Lok Ayukta’s second report on illegal mining in the state were leaked to a section of the media, Lok Ayukta N Santosh Hegde has alleged that his phones at his office and residence, and his cellphones were tapped.
“I have received clear information about my mobile and land line (both home and office) phones being tapped. Conversations between me and UV Singh (chief conservator of forests, lokayukta cell) who is heading the task of preparing the final report were tapped. But I don’t know who has tapped these phones,” an emotional Hegde told media persons on Thursday as tears streaked his cheeks.
“After the report was leaked, I checked with some professionals about possible phone tapping. They told me that my telephones had been tapped and everything was being recorded from two sources. Telephone tapping was noticed over the past three-four months. I suspect that the person who has done this was recording conversations in two places,” he said.
After holding meetings with Lok Ayukta officials Hegde informed the media: “I feel very sad about the report being leaked, but I will own the responsibility. I am sure that our officers have no role in this. But somebody did this. Only after a through enquiry can we come to know who did it and exactly how it was leaked.”
He refused to attribute the blame to any person or a political party, but merely said “Someone has done this. I will take the responsibility of the report being leaked.”
Hegde, however, iterated that only a “small part” of the report had been leaked and that the full report had “some more names of politicians and higher officials of the government”.
“The report has not lost its importance or sanctity due to the leak. We will submit the detailed report with evidences; after that, it is left to the state government to either accept it or reject the report,” he said.
But the Lok Ayukta did mention that he has no faith in the state government accepting the report.
“However, I have great respect for the Supreme Court as it will take the mining report seriously and pass appropriate orders. Already the Supreme Court is hearing on the illegal mining issue and it has appointed a Central Empowered Committee (CEC). We will not submit the report to Supreme Court. The aggrieved parties will take the report to the Supreme Court,” he said.
Reacting to rumours about his resignation, Hegde said: “If I resign I cannot submit the report. So I will not resign. I will complete my term and then step down,” he said. Hegde is scheduled to resign in early August when his term completes.
