Above: Former TMC MP Mukul Roy meeting BJP leaders after joining BJP in New Delhi (file picture). Photo:UNI

Away from the power centre at the state level in West Bengal and somewhat nearer to the corridors of power at the Centre, former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and MP Mukul Roy is now complaining about being right in the middle of a wiretap.

Roy, who was not too long ago considered a close confidante of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, quit TMC and joined the BJP only recently. Now he and Mamata are daggers drawn.

Roy told a news channel that he had filed a petition with the Delhi High Court. While the case was supposed to be heard on Friday (November 17), it will now be heard on Monday (November 20).

He has been quoted as saying on News18: “For the last two months I am suspecting that my four mobile phones and one landline are being tapped. My movements were constantly tracked during my stay in Kolkata, Delhi and in Gujarat.

“Mobile phones of my friends and other political leaders who are close to me are also tapped,” he added, saying: “even TMC leaders are also under scanner and state agencies are tapping their phones.”

That was a hit at how Mamata supposedly controls her flock in the state.

He said: “On Wednesday, I moved the Delhi High Court demanding proper investigation into the matter. The plea was listed before Justice Vibhu Bakhru. The matter was supposed to hear today (Friday) but now the matter will be heard on November 20 due to some official reasons.”

It was also informed that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has apparently assured Roy of the Centre’s appropriate action. Roy said he had written to Singh last month with his allegations.

Agencies have quoted from Singh’s letter to Roy, saying: “I have received your letter dated October 3, 2017, regarding alleged monitoring of your movements by the state administration. The matter is being examined for appropriate action.”

Incidentally at that time (of his letter to Singh) Roy was still with the TMC, though suspended by the party head honchos, including by Mamata. He resigned from the party and his Rajya Sabha seat only on October 11, proving rumours true that he had been in talks with the BJP for a long time. He officially joined the BJP only on November 3.

In his plea, it has been said that Roy asked the court to direct MTNL and Vodafone to reveal any directive, if any, they had received from any authority to intercept calls from or received by Roy, his relatives and/or family members.

The phone tapping allegations had also been made by the Centre’s junior minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Babul Supriyo.

—India Legal Bureau