New Delhi: The Defence Ministry on Friday denied the reports of bugging in its office, saying that there were just routine checks in the offices of the Raksha Mantri and other offices in South Block. "Nothing has been found in these checks," said Defence Ministry officials.
The Home Ministry too said it was not aware of any bugging incident in the Defence Minister's office.
"The MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) has not ordered an IB inquiry into the matter," it said.
Reportedly, Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma had ordered for an Intelligence Bureau probe after a routine check by Military Intelligence officials in the Defence Ministry had detected the bug on February 16.
Reportedly, their hand-held detectors indicated presence of a monitoring device in Antony's office. The MI personnel were immediately asked to leave by Defence Ministry security.
It was alleged that the Home Ministry was alerted immediately and the IB was called in.
Finance Ministry's bugging woes
In June 2011, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's office was also bugged. Mukherjee had spoken about discovery of at least 16 identical adhesive like gum sticks from key rooms of the Finance Ministry.
Three of these were found under Pranab Mukherjee's own table. Four such gum sticks were found in two conference halls. Similar gum sticks were also found in the offices of his Officer on Special Duty Omita Paul and Personal Secretary Manoj Pant. There were imprints of bug like devices on these gum sticks as well.
The bugs were allegedly removed leaving imprints on the gum, a discovery first made by a private detective agency called in by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). Experts say since there are no jammers in place, wireless bugs can easily be placed in any ministry.
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