New Delhi:
BJP leader Sushma Swaraj has, in a series of tweets, said that the government needs to provide a better explanation on reports that the office of Pranab Mukherjee may have been subjected a serious security breach.The Finance Minister said today that, "In respect of the news item, the IB investigated into it and they found there is nothing."
(Read No security breach in my office, says Pranab)Ms Swaraj says the matter cannot end there. "Is it that the Government was spying on its own Finance Minister? Or is it a corporate house ?" she asked on Twitter.
A report in The Indian Express today revealed that in September, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee wrote to the Prime Minister, stating that there had been "a serious breach of security" in his office and the offices of people who work closely with him. Mr Mukherjee had allegedly asked the PM to consider ordering "a secret inquiry."
His letter to the Prim Minister came after "planted adhesives" were found in different parts of the Finance Ministry. No recording devices were found. The Intelligence Bureau reported that there was no breach and that the adhesive marks were likely caused by chewing gum stuck to surfaces of desks and walls by the cleaning staff. Ms Swaraj tweeted, "The Finance Minister may have his own compulsions of playing it down. The 'Chewing gum theory' is hard to digest."
The Central Board of Direct Taxes, however, which reports to the Finance Ministry, has allegedly brought in private detectives and reportedly continues to sweep the Finance Ministry to ensure it is not embedded with cameras, voice recorders, or hidden mics.