Central authorities are tapping phones, according to DMK

The ruling DMK said on Tuesday that following the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections, the Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax authorities, and other investigating agencies of the union government have been illegally tapping the mobile phone conversations of party candidates, front-line leaders, their friends, and close relatives by using illegal software. This comes a few days after AIADMK filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India, accusing the intelligence wing of the state police of intercepting the phones of opposition leaders.

To guarantee free and fair elections, DMK organization secretary RS Bharathi requested the chief election commissioner to launch an investigation into the unlawful phone tapping in a complaint filed with the Election Commission of India.

“We understand that the central agencies are illegally intercepting the telephones of candidates, our frontline leaders, their friends, and close relatives,” Bharathi said, pointing out that government agencies can only intercept communications under specific circumstances and with the approval of designated authorities. “While no authority can intercept the phone conversations except for the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of an offence,” Bharathi said.

“We cannot ignore the reports that these agencies are using Pegasus software to target political opponents,” he said.