Kolkata, May 26
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who frequently alleged during the Left Front regime that her phone was being tapped, today said an inquiry had been ordered into the eavesdrop on political leaders, scribes and others by the earlier government.

No rules were followed in tapping phones of political leaders, journalists and even common people during Left Front regime which would be inquired into, she told reporters here.

“We have asked the Chief Secretary, the Home Secretary and Kolkata police chief to probe at whose instance and for what purpose such phone tapping had taken place,” she said after a meeting with senior IPS officers of the Kolkata police, including police commissioner RK Pachnanda.

“Phone tapping is a violation of privacy. Phone tapping is done in case of terrorists and criminals and that too with the permission of the Home Ministry,” she said.

She said there was public grievance for a long time about phone tapping without the permission of the Home Ministry.

Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh and the Home Secretary GD Gautama were present at the meeting.