CBI denies charge of intercepting phones of NSA Doval, Asthana

New Delhi: The CBI on Tuesday denied in the Delhi High Court the allegation that it had illegally tapped the phones of National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and the agency's then special director Rakesh Asthana.

The CBI further submitted in an affidavit that the agency never put any telephone

number under surveillance illegally.

The agency's affidavit was filed before a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice A J Bhambhani in response to a petition which has sought the setting up of an SIT to investigate alleged illegal phone tapping of Doval by the CBI.

"It is submitted that the telephone calls of Ajit Doval and Rakesh Asthana were not intercepted at any point of time by CBI, Special Unit. It is also submitted that CBI never put any telephone number under surveillance illegally.

The veiled reference of the petitioner to illegal interception of phone numbers of Law Secretary and other IAS

officers is vehemently denied," it said.

The court has listed the matter for hearing on July 8.

The petition by Sarthak Chaturvedi, an advocate, has alleged that the illegal act of "abuse of power" was committed by some public servants working in the agency "for their ulterior motive".

However, the CBI denied the allegations and said it was false and incorrect.