Jaipur
The Rajasthan phone tapping case continues to draw attention as the Delhi High Court recently prolonged the protection from arrest for Lokesh Sharma, the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, until November 3. The scheduled hearing, initially set for 3 p.m. on Wednesday, was postponed owing to a judge’s farewell function, resulting in the extension of the stay on Sharma’s potential arrest.
During the court session presided over by Justice Vikas Mahajan, Siddharth Aggarwal, representing Sharma, vehemently refuted the allegations put forth by the Delhi Police. Aggarwal categorically dismissed any claims of non-cooperation in the investigation, emphasizing Sharma’s lack of involvement in any illicit recording of intercepted calls by a Rajasthan government department.
Furthermore, Aggarwal underscored an apparent eight-month delay in the filing of the case, raising pertinent questions about the rationale behind the prolonged duration before the case was initiated. Notably, the case against Sharma, filed in March 2021 by Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, pertains to an incident reportedly occurring in July 2020. As the legal proceedings unfold, the interim shield from arrest continues to be in force, providing an avenue for the comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the complexities inherent in the case. This extension allows for a more detailed examination of the facts, ensuring that justice is administered impartially and diligently.
