The timing could not have been more political. Soon after the imposition of code of conduct and a day before hearing in High Court against the FIR, Delhi Police's Crime Branch has summoned Lokesh Sharma, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, for yet another round of interrogation.
People close to development suspects political intention behind this which could lead to arrest of Sharma.
This telephone tapping case was ignited by an FIR filed in March 2021 by union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, a vocal political adversary of Chief Minister Gehlot. Lokesh Sharma has contested the FIR, challenging its authenticity in the Delhi High Court, where he has secured interim protection from potential arrest.
The recent turn of events saw Lokesh Sharma receiving a notice from the Delhi Crime Branch mere hours after the election code of conduct was imposed in the state. He has been mandated to present himself for questioning within 24 hours at the Crime Branch's office in Delhi.
Notably, this round of questioning has been meticulously scheduled, coinciding just a day before the already slated hearing of the same case at the Delhi High Court on October 11.
The timing and circumstances surrounding this notice have raised eyebrows, prompting questions about the potential political motivations at play. Lokesh Sharma's position as Co-Chairman of the Congress Central War Room and his quest for a political ticket from Bikaner against Gehlot's senior Cabinet colleague Dr. BD Kalla in the upcoming elections infuse the case with pronounced political significance.
Sharma's interactions with the Crime Branch in the past, undergoing multiple rounds of questioning, underscore the gravity of this unfolding legal battle. The roots of the case trace back to March 2021 when Gajendra Singh Shekhawat accused Sharma of being involved in illicit phone tapping activities. These unfolding events intertwine the legal intricacies with the pulsating political dynamics, promising far-reaching implications for both realms.
Vivek Shukla is a management graduate who has worked in corporate worked for 20 years and is now pursuing his passion — news.
