New Delhi: Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot's aide has been summoned by Delhi police for questioning in a phone-tapping case. Lokesh Sharma is the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Gehlot and the case is linked to the case dating back to July 2020's political crisis.
It was amid a rebellion against Gehlot by his then-deputy Sachin Pilot and 18 party MLAs supporting him. Audio clips of alleged telephonic conversations between Shekhawat and Congress leaders surfaced and Sharma is accused of purposely circulating the clips.
According to sources, this is the sixth notice to Sharma under Section 41.1 (A) of the CrPC. He has already appeared for questioning twice - on December 6, 2021, and May 14, 2022. He also submitted reasons for not being able to appear on three other dates.
He is asked to appear on Monday. The notice comes days before the Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear the Delhi Police Crime Branch's application seeking vacating of an interim order staying coercive action against Sharma. He has approached the court seeking to quash the FIR against him. The hearing is scheduled for February 20. The Crime Branch last month approached the HC saying Sharma has been misusing the interim protection and delaying the investigation.
The Delhi Police registered an FIR against Sharma for criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and unlawfully intercepting telegraphic signals (telephonic conversation) on a complaint lodged by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the BJP MP from Jodhpur on March 25, 2021.