Probe into 'leakage' of sensitive documents

By Our Special Correspondent

GANDHINAGAR, NOV. 29. The Gujarat Government has taken a serious view of alleged leakage to a private company of documents considered highly-confidential and sensitive from the country's defence point of view.

The Chief Minister, Mr. Keshubhai Patel, told media- persons here today that though the CBI was inquiring into the matter, he would order an independent inquiry. The Forest and Environment Department Secretary was alleged to have issued telephonic instructions to forest officers of the border districts to hand over ``toposheets'' to a company for ``digitalisation'' of secret information.

In a direct conflict with the Chief Secretary, Mr. L.N.S. Mukundan, who filed an affidavit defending the Forest Secretary in the High Court, which was holding an inquiry ``in camera'', Mr. Patel said if it was found to be wrong, the Government would file a revised affidavit.

``It is a sensitive matter and there will be no compromise on national security,'' he said. Penal action would be taken against the bureaucrats concerned after the inquiry was completed ``very soon.''

Mr. Patel disagreed with the Chief Secretary's contention that there was no need for involving the CBI as the State police intelligence department was competent to handle the situation.

The Chief Minister said the Government would not stop the CBI from inquiring into the matter. He denied that the Government was trying to shield the Forest Secretary.

The highly-sensitive maps and charts on the topography of the border areas should not be leaked to anyone for any work without the permission of the Defence Ministry. But the Forest and Environment Department Additional Chief Secretary, Mr. P. Basu, entrusted, it is claimed, ``digitalisation'' of the documents to a private company in which his son is alleged to have some stakes. A State-owned organisation, ``Resika'', was doing the work earlier.

Mr. Patel said he did not know whether the recent crash of an Indian Air Force helicopter over the Rann of Kutch, in which at least seven top Border Security Force personnel and IAF crew were killed, was related to the alleged leakage of documents.

Meanwhile, a team of top CBI officials has reached Gandhinagar to investigate the matter.

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Section  : Other States
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