Phone Calls Of NSA Ajit Doval, Rakesh Asthana Were Not Intercepted: CBI

Phone calls of National Security advisor Ajit Doval and former Central Bureau of Investigation officer Rakesh Asthana were not intercepted at any point of time, the CBI has told the Delhi High Court. In its response to a petition that sought investigation into the alleged interceptions, the agency said in case of interceptions carried out to maintain national security following due processes.

"Ajit Doval's and Rakesh Asthana's telephone calls were not intercepted at any point of time," the agency old the Delhi High Court yesterday. "No telephone calls were illegally intercepted by CBI. Calls were intercepted after obtaining permission from the competent authority under Indian Telegraph Act," the agency said in its written submission.

The petition filed by Sarthak Chaturvedi had sought investigation into allegations of illegal interception of the calls of the two officials under the order of then CBI chief Alok Verma.

Mr Verma and his deputy Mr Asthana had been at loggerheads since the junior officer was inducted into the agency. The unprecedented public conflicts had ended with tit-for-tat corruption allegations and Mr Asthana taking the agency to court.

The petitioner had also asked that guidelines be framed for intercepting calls for national security purposes.

The petition cited the affidavit filed by MK Sinha, another CBI official, during the hearing of case against Alok Verma in the Supreme Court. "Several senior functionaries of the government, including NSA Ajit Doval and Union Law Secretary's calls were illegally tapped by CBI officials," the petition read.

After the court called for the agency's response, Satish Dagar, the officer investigating the bribery case against Rakesh Asthana, filed the response.