JAIPUR: An audio clip of a conversation purportedly between former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and his ex-OSD Lokesh Sharma resurfaced on Saturday, stoking the 2020 phone-tapping controversy that had followed a Sachin Pilot-led rebellion in the state’s then Congress govt.
In the recordings, a voice purported to be former chief minister is heard asking whether the devices used to share the phone-tapping clips have been destroyed, and whether all incriminating evidence of transfers from laptop to mobile and on to social media groups has been erased.To each question, a voice purported to be Sharma’s is heard replying in the affirmative.
Sharma had claimed publicly earlier this year that Gehlot had given him audio clips related to the phone-tapping case. The clips were allegedly used to implicate Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Pilot’s rebellion. Sharma also claimed Gehlot directed him to release the clips on social media to “expose” Shekhawat for attempting to destabilise his govt. Some clips were alleged to contain conversations between Shekhawat and former Cong MLA Bhanwarlal Sharma pertaining to horse-trading of MLAs. Another one allegedly featured former minister Vishvendra Singh. After the clips were circulated, Shekhawat had lodged a case against Sharma with Delhi Police and the matter remains under investigation.
Sharma, meanwhile, claimed the clip was authentic and was the same audio played during his presser in April.
In one of the conversations a voice, allegedly Gehlot’s, asks a person whether he “still has the phone with him”. A voice purportedly Sharma’s replies, “It has been damaged.” The question is asked again: “Pakka kiya na?” The answer: “Yes, I damaged the device itself, Saab.” The voice alleged to be Gehlot’s asks for reconfirmation: “200%?”. The reply is: “200%, pura.”
In the recordings, a voice purported to be former chief minister is heard asking whether the devices used to share the phone-tapping clips have been destroyed, and whether all incriminating evidence of transfers from laptop to mobile and on to social media groups has been erased.To each question, a voice purported to be Sharma’s is heard replying in the affirmative.
Sharma had claimed publicly earlier this year that Gehlot had given him audio clips related to the phone-tapping case. The clips were allegedly used to implicate Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Pilot’s rebellion. Sharma also claimed Gehlot directed him to release the clips on social media to “expose” Shekhawat for attempting to destabilise his govt. Some clips were alleged to contain conversations between Shekhawat and former Cong MLA Bhanwarlal Sharma pertaining to horse-trading of MLAs. Another one allegedly featured former minister Vishvendra Singh. After the clips were circulated, Shekhawat had lodged a case against Sharma with Delhi Police and the matter remains under investigation.
Sharma, meanwhile, claimed the clip was authentic and was the same audio played during his presser in April.
In one of the conversations a voice, allegedly Gehlot’s, asks a person whether he “still has the phone with him”. A voice purportedly Sharma’s replies, “It has been damaged.” The question is asked again: “Pakka kiya na?” The answer: “Yes, I damaged the device itself, Saab.” The voice alleged to be Gehlot’s asks for reconfirmation: “200%?”. The reply is: “200%, pura.”
