On ex-DGP’s plea, HC orders FIR in phone-tapping case

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 14

Former DGP ID Bhandari, who was booked in a phone-tapping case in 2014 and was discharged by the court, has filed an FIR against those involved in falsely implicating him in the case.

After the appeal of the government against the orders of the CJM discharging him was dismissed by the Sessions court, Bhandari had filed a complaint on May 11 with the Shimla police detailing the facts of the case for registration of an FIR and the complaint was sent to the police headquarters which referred it to the Vigilance Department.

He also moved an application to the High Court and an FIR was registered today on the directions of the court. The FIR has been registered under Sections 218, 211, 167, 504, 500, 441 and 120B of the IPC and Section 26 of the Telegraph Act against unknown persons.

“Some senior IAS and IPS officers were instrumental in framing false cases against me,” said Bhandari, adding that he had named eight persons, including the then Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and those involved in the seizure of his computer.

SP, Shimla, Omapati Jamwal confirmed that a case had been register on the directions of the court.

The inquiry into the case was ordered after the Virbhadra government returned to power on December 25, 2012, and a Special Investigation Team of the Vigilance wing, headed by a DIG, was constituted to probe the matter.

During the probe, the agency claimed that 1,400 to 1,500 phones had been illegally tapped but when the challan was presented, only two cases were mentioned. Bhandari pleaded that he could not be chargesheeted and should be discharged and his plea was accepted.