Documents that Devendra Fadnavis gave to Centre were stolen: Maharashtra govt

The documents and a pen drive that BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis showed the press in March in Delhi and later handed over to the Union home ministry had been stolen from the SID during IPS Rashmi Shukla's tenure, the state government told the magistrate court on Friday. The Maharashtra government said that someone stole the confidential data from the State Intelligence Department (SID) and gave it to opposition leader Fadnavis, and that this was a case of theft of intellectual property.

The Cyber Cell of Mumbai Crime Branch, which is investigating the matter under Official Secrets Act against an unknown person, had sought certain documents from the Union home ministry to conclude its probe. But when it did not get the documents, the state government moved to the Killa court seeking an order to the Centre to submit the papers and the pen drive that Fadnavis had given to the central government. In its reply to the court, the Union home ministry said the state's application was vague and untenable.

On Friday, the state government's advocate Ajay Misar told the court, "We just want to verify if these documents are related to our case. The Centre has no valid reason to deny us the same. We need this data to take the investigation to a logical conclusion. We have clearly mentioned what we want from the Centre, so our application is not vague."

The state, through Mumbai cyber cell, also informed the court that Fadnavis is the most important witness in the case, but despite several summons, he hasn't appeared to record his statement, and has been seeking more time. In March, Fadnavis held a press conference in Delhi alleging a transfer racket by former Maharashtra home minister Deshmukh, and claimed that the same was tapped by SID while Rashmi Shukla was heading the department.

She also prepared a confidential report naming dozens of IPS officers lobbying with Deshmuk for posting, he had said. Following this, the state filed a complaint for leaking of secret information and documents. The cyber cell believes that it was leaked to Fadnavis with malafide intentions.

The magistrate court has reserved its order for December 28. Talking to mid-day, Fadnavis said, "I have not been called by cyber cell for inquiry. I have received a questionnaire and a letter from the cyber cell. I have already said that I will speak about it at the right time. In fact, I will speak on it. As an Opposition party leader, I have the right to expose corruption and the government doesn't have any right to ask me for the source of my information."

28
Day this month the court will hear the matter next