Phone Tapping became a hot topic today in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana after Telugu Desam Party’s allegations on Telangana government for snooping. However both the state police units lead the nation in intercepting phones. With the permission of the Union Home Ministry, Telangana Police is tapping over 300 phone while AP Police eavesdrop over 150 calls.
However Phone tapping is allowed when there are issues of National Security involved. There are separate wings in the intelligence departments of both the states to tap the phones. However tapping phones with out permission is strictly illegal.
In 1988, Karnataka Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde was forced to resign over the allegations of phone tapping on opposition parties and businessmen in the state. However Telangana intelligence claims that they gather political intelligence through its men, but not through tapping phones.
