NCP leader Eknath Khadse on Thursday appeared before the Colaba police here to record his statement as a witness in the case registered against senior IPS officer Rashmi Shukla for alleged illegal tapping of politicians' phones, an official said.
Mr Khadse reached the Colaba police station in south Mumbai around 11 am, where his statement is being recorded by a police inspector-rank officer, he said.
The FIR against Rashmi Shukla was registered at the Colaba police station in March under the Indian Telegraph Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, following a complaint by senior police officer, who accused her of having put the phone numbers of Mr Khadse, a former BJP leader, and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut under surveillance.
The alleged illegal phone tapping had taken place when Rashmi Shukla headed the State Intelligence Department (SID), police have said.
As per the complaint, Mr Khadse's phone was allegedly tapped twice in 2019, when he was with the BJP. He joined the NCP in October 2020.
"Apart from Khadse, the phone of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut was also tapped during the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government (in November 2019)," the police official said.
Based on the complaint lodged by Additional Commissioner of Police (Special Branch), a case was registered against Rashmi Shukla, he said.
"As investigation into the case is on, the Colaba police had called Mr Khadse to record his statement as a witness in the case. Accordingly, the NCP leader visited the police station, where his statement is being recorded," he said.
Rashmi Shukla is presently on central deputation and posted as additional director general of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Hyderabad.
The Pune police have also registered an FIR against Rashmi Shukla in connection with alleged illegal tapping of the phones of Congress leader Nana Patole when a BJP-led government was in power in the state. Mr Patole is now state Congress chief.
Prince Harry's Phone-Hacking Lawsuit Against Daily Mail To Go To Trial In 2026 Eknath Khadse Announces Retirement From Electoral Politics, Seeks Votes For Daughter Trouble For Ashok Gehlot? Ex Aide Points To Him In Phone Tapping Case Is Safe Car Enough? Volvo Crash That Killed CEO, Family Sparks Big Question 4-Year-Old Boy Run Over By Speeding Creta In Mumbai, Teen Driver Arrested BJP Leader Who Lost To Priyanka Gandhi Challenges Election, Congress Reacts Is Safe Car Enough? Volvo Crash That Killed CEO, Family Sparks Big Question SEBI Bans 9 Entities For Generating Illegal Gains Of Rs 21.16 Crore Christmas Market Attack Suspect Had Warned Of "Randomly Slaughtering" Germans Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.