New Delhi:
Refuting BJP leader Yashwant Sinha's allegation that his phone was tapped by Union Minister P Chidambaram, Home Secretary RK Singh has said that central agencies can tap phones only with his permission.
"This allegation is completely wrong. All agencies have to justify why they want to tap phones. There is a detailed procedure for it. We have denied permission in several cases, "said Mr Singh.
Mr Sinha had on Friday said that his phone was tapped by Union Minister P Chidambaram.
"Today, with complete responsibility, I want to say that when I raised the issue of Aircel-Maxis, Chidambaram ordered to tap my phone as he was then Home Minister," Mr Sinha had said.
Mr Sinha, like other senior leaders of the BJP, had alleged that in 2006 that Mr Chidambaram, as Finance Minister, had deliberately delayed permission for the sale of the telecom Aircel to a company named Maxis from Malaysia. During this time, the BJP says, Mr Chidambaram's son was able to invest in Aircel and benefit from Maxis' acquisition of the company.