The Delhi Police’s Crime Branch has summoned Lokesh Sharma, the former Officer on Special Duty to ex-Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, for questioning in a phone tapping case linked to Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. This marks the first time Sharma is being questioned since he revealed his phone conversations with Gehlot, alleging that the former CM orchestrated phone tracking of party rebels during the 2020 political crisis. Sharma also claimed that Gehlot handed him recordings to circulate in the media. The situation escalated when audio clips leaked, reportedly plotting to destabilize Gehlot’s government. Following these events, Sharma is set to appear before the police on September 25 for further investigation into the matter.
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s ex-Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Lokesh Sharma, has been summoned by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police for questioning regarding a phone tapping case initiated by Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. This will mark the first time Sharma is called in following his claims that he had shared phone conversations with Gehlot.
Sharma previously alleged that during the political turmoil in Rajasthan back in 2020, the phones of party dissenters were tracked at Gehlot’s request. He even accused Gehlot of distributing audio recordings of phone calls and instructing him to leak these to the media. This is a change from Sharma’s earlier position, where he stated he had received such recordings from social media.
In a revealing twist, Sharma shared that Gehlot had asked if the phone used to share the recordings was destroyed and suggested he get rid of his laptop, which Sharma declined to do. He claimed that after the Congress party lost in the Assembly elections last December, Gehlot did not pursue the matter further, leaving him to navigate the situation alone.
This controversy started in 2020 when audio clips allegedly involving prominent political figures were leaked, sparking a significant crisis that saw then-Deputy CM Sachin Pilot lead a rebellion against Gehlot’s administration.
Sharma has been ordered to report to the Crime Branch office on September 25, and he has confirmed his willingness to cooperate with the investigation. Notably, earlier this month, the Supreme Court permitted the Rajasthan government to withdraw a lawsuit challenging the Delhi Police’s authority to investigate the phone tapping case.
Tags: Ashok Gehlot, Lokesh Sharma, phone tapping case, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Rajasthan politics, Sachin Pilot.
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What does OSD mean?
OSD stands for Officer on Special Duty. This person helps high-ranking officials with various tasks. -
Why has Gehlot’s former OSD been summoned by Delhi Police?
The former OSD is summoned for questioning related to an ongoing investigation, possibly involving allegations of misconduct or corruption. -
What does it mean to be summoned by the police?
Being summoned means that the police are asking someone to come in for questioning or to provide information about a case. -
Is this the first time the former OSD is being summoned?
No, this is not the first time. The former OSD has faced police questioning before in connection with similar issues. - What could happen after the police questioning?
After the questioning, the police may decide to take further action, such as filing charges or closing the case, depending on what they find out.
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