File pic: Congress president Sonia Gandhi
New Delhi:
The home ministry and Delhi Police have launched a probe into alleged hoax calls made to Attorney General GE Vanhanvati by a woman pretending to be Sonia Gandhi.
The caller allegedly identified herself as the UPA chairperson and discussed crucial cases being heard in the Supreme Court.
Sources told NDTV that the top lawyer got two calls from the woman - on September 5 and 11 - before hearings on the 'Coal-Gate' scam, or the illegal allocation of coal blocks to private parties at throwaway prices at a huge cost to the government.
The caller allegedly expressed 'unhappiness' over the handling of some case and suggested that Mr Vahanvati should 'lie low' in cases involving some corporate houses. Sources say the calls were unsettling and convincing enough for the top lawyer to consult Law Minister Kapil Sibal, who reportedly informed Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.
The 66-year-old Congress president was in New York for a medical check-up at the time. She had gone to the US on September 1, after she had to be hospitalized for a few hours on complaints of chest pain, just when Parliament was voting on the Food Security Bill she had championed ardently.
The attorney general, say sources, suspected something wrong and reported the calls to the home ministry.
"We have received a complaint from the Attorney General and are conducting a preliminary inquiry," the Delhi police confirmed.
Reports suggest the Delhi Police and Central Bureau of Investigation have identified the caller as a government employee who is known for her accurate imitation of Sonia Gandhi's voice.
Investigators are wondering whether it was an attempt to influence the coal case at the instance of a more powerful person.
The Congress has refused to comment on the case. "It is a very small matter and has nothing to do with the party. Why should the party be dragged into it?" said a Congress leader.
The caller allegedly identified herself as the UPA chairperson and discussed crucial cases being heard in the Supreme Court.
Sources told NDTV that the top lawyer got two calls from the woman - on September 5 and 11 - before hearings on the 'Coal-Gate' scam, or the illegal allocation of coal blocks to private parties at throwaway prices at a huge cost to the government.
The caller allegedly expressed 'unhappiness' over the handling of some case and suggested that Mr Vahanvati should 'lie low' in cases involving some corporate houses. Sources say the calls were unsettling and convincing enough for the top lawyer to consult Law Minister Kapil Sibal, who reportedly informed Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.
The 66-year-old Congress president was in New York for a medical check-up at the time. She had gone to the US on September 1, after she had to be hospitalized for a few hours on complaints of chest pain, just when Parliament was voting on the Food Security Bill she had championed ardently.
The attorney general, say sources, suspected something wrong and reported the calls to the home ministry.
"We have received a complaint from the Attorney General and are conducting a preliminary inquiry," the Delhi police confirmed.
Reports suggest the Delhi Police and Central Bureau of Investigation have identified the caller as a government employee who is known for her accurate imitation of Sonia Gandhi's voice.
Investigators are wondering whether it was an attempt to influence the coal case at the instance of a more powerful person.
The Congress has refused to comment on the case. "It is a very small matter and has nothing to do with the party. Why should the party be dragged into it?" said a Congress leader.
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