Today, On 2nd July, The Madras High Court held that phone tapping is a breach of the fundamental right to privacy under Article 21 unless it follows a legally established procedure. The Court stressed such powers can’t be used for ordinary crimes.
A Delhi Court on Monday (Dec 17) granted pardon to Lokesh Sharma, who was an officer on special duty (OSD) to former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, in the case alleging illegal phone tapping of Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Anuj Kumar Singh allowed Sharma’s application for pardon after he agreed to disclose all facts related to the case. The judge said the case relates to a conspiracy hatched in darkness and the true facts can only be disclosed by Sharma as no other person had knowledge of the crime.
![[Phone Tapping Case] "The Arrest Is Now Possible": Lokesh Sharma Faces Legal Heat in Rajasthan Phone Tapping Case](https://i0.wp.com/lawchakra.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ashok-gehlot-lokesh-sharma-155040275-16x9_0-jpg-690%C3%97388-11-15-2024_02_40_PM.png?resize=447%2C367&ssl=1)
In Rajasthan, the Delhi Police can now arrest Lokesh Sharma, former OSD to ex-CM Ashok Gehlot, following lifted protections. Sharma, implicated in phone tapping and accusations of illegal recordings, withdrew his petitions for protection. This case, tied to a 2020 political crisis, raises concerns over political surveillance and privacy rights.
