HC notice to top babu, cops after Vyapam whistle-blower files plea
BHOPAL: The Gwalior bench of Madhya Pradesh high court on Friday issued notices to principal secretary (home) and senior police officers, including director general of police (DGP), on a petition filed by Vyapam scam whistle-blower Ashish Chaturvedi who alleged that round the clock camera surveillance is encroaching on his privacy.
DP Singh, lawyer representing Chaturvedi, said it was the first case related to privacy infringement after last month, in a landmark judgment, a nine-judge bench led by Chief Justice JS Khehar ruled that privacy is a fundamental right.
Singh said after hearing his arguments in the light of the SC’s ruling, Justice Anand Pathak issued notices to principal secretary (home) and DGP, Madhya Pradesh, IG police, Gwalior, and SP, Gwalior. “The Gwalior IG has been directed to appear in person,” he said.
Talking to HT, Ashish Chaturvedi said that following intelligence reports, police provided him security in 2014.
“But since January 25 this year, the cops providing security cover to me have been videographing all my activities day and night and following me everywhere with the camera. This has caused me tremendous mental agony,” he said.
Chaturvedi said after SC’s ruling , he filed a petition on Wednesday. “I want to know why my privacy is being breached and who in the police establishment issued the written order, if any,” he said.
Chaturvedi said in the name of security, his privacy cannot be breached. “Following mysterious deaths of people linked to the scam, police provided me security. There have been two to three attempts on my life,” he said. However, Sangam Jain, government advocate, said Chaturvedi was put under surveillance for security reasons. “He has been alleging that he is not being provided proper cover. So he was put under surveillance,” he said.