Rajasthan government moves SC to withdraw suit on phone tapping

JAIPUR: In a significant turn of events, the Bhajanlal-led BJP government in Rajasthan has decided to withdraw a case filed in the Supreme Court against the Central government on the 2020 phone tapping allegations. The move is being seen as a major setback to former CM Ashok Gehlot, whose administration initially filed the case to stop the Delhi Police’s investigation into the matter.

The controversy goes back to March 2021, when Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat lodged a complaint with the Delhi Crime Branch, alleging illegal phone-tapping by the Gehlot government. This prompted the Gehlot administration to approach the Supreme Court arguing that only the Rajasthan Police had the jurisdiction over the investigation and sought a stay on Delhi Police’s actions.