In the cacophony surrounding the Times Now campaign against Sushma Swaraj, the media did not high light an important event yesterday where the Chief of the Anti Corruption Bureau (Appointed by the LG) complained that his office was bugged with spy devices for voice recording. The “Pen like spying tool” was reportedly found in his office. (See report here)
The natural inference is that it was planted there by Arvind Kejriwal’s group which has appointed its own chief for the same Anti Corruption Bureau.
Apart from the political issues involved in two officials working in the same capacity, what needs to be recognized is that “Unauthorised implant of spying devices” is a serious violation of Privacy.
Unfortunately India does not have a good Privacy Protection law and hence we need to struggle to find out how this prima facie offence can be brought under legal scrutiny.
It is essential for Mr Ravi Shankar Prasad to examine if there is a need to amend ITA 2008 to enable such offences be recognized without ambiguity, when the next revision is undertaken.
Naavi
