Sakshi Chhabra
The CBI has reportedly recorded the statement of senior IPS officer Rashmi Shukla in connection with its probe into corruption and extortion related allegations levelled against Anil Deshmukh by former police commissioner Param Bir Singh.
CBI team recorded Shukla’s statement in Hyderabad on April 21, said an official.
Last year, Maharashtra’s state intelligence department under Shukla tapped telephones of politically connected people allegedly discussing transfers and posting of police officers in exchange for money.
On April 26, the Mumbai cyber police summoned Shukla in connection with a case registered under the Officials Secrets Act against unknown persons for alleged illegal tapping of phones and leaking of findings of official secret documents.
A day later Shukla wrote to the department expressing her inability to join the probe due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Shukla was requested to elaborate on her report on the transfer-pocketing racket of last year.
Earlier the CBI also recorded the statement of suspended cop Sachin Vaze and two of his drivers among several others in connection with the case.
The IPS officer, who is presently posted in Hyderabad on Central Reserve Police force (CRPF) deputation, was asked to appear before assistant commissioner of police (Cyber) Nitin Jadhav.
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis had cited a letter purportedly written by Shukla to the then Director General of Police about alleged corruption in police transfers.
The letter also mentioned details of intercepted calls, leading to an uproar with leaders of the Shiv Sena led ruling coalition alleging that Shukla tapped phones without permission.
An FIR was registered under the Official Secrets Act at the BKC cyber police station against unidentified persons leaking certain confidential documents on the complaint filed by the State Intelligence Department.
The FIR also contains charges under section 30 of the Indian Telegraph Act and section 43(B) of the Information Technology Act.
Before registration of the FIR, Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte had alleged in a report submitted to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray that it appears that Shukla herself had leaked the confidential report to Fadnavis.