AHMEDABAD, April 14: In an explosive submission before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) where he has challenged his recent supersession, additional director general of Gujarat police RB Sreekumar has revealed how Chief Minister Narendra Modi and his bureaucrats issued illegal orders like "elimination" of minorities, ignoring activities of the Sangh Parivar and distorting facts about the actual situation prevailing in the state during his tenure as state intelligence chief.

He also revealed how Modi himself issued instructions to keep a watch and tap the phones of state Congress chief Shankersinh Vaghela, his former Cabinet minister Haren Pandya and certain Muslim police officers and municipal corporators. Sreekumar, whose earlier disclosures also created a furore, has made these revelations in a blowby-blow account contained in a "semi-official" diary annexed to his petition before the CAT.

This diary contains details of his interactions as additional DGP (intelligence) between April 16 and September 19, 2002 with Modi and many others in the state government. An entry of June 28, 2002 says that after a meeting to discuss preparations for the forthcoming Rath Yatra, then chief secretary G Subbarao told Sreekumar, "If someone is trying to disturb the Rath Yatra or planning to spoil the same, that person be eliminated."

He added: "This is the policy and well-considered decision of Chief Minister Narendra Modi."

When Sreekumar objected saying it was illegal, Subbarao told him that "such action can be taken on the basis of situational logic". Subbarao was not available for comments.

In other entries Sreekumar notes that right from day one, Modi wanted him to keep tabs on Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela.

Modi first told him on April 16, 2002 to tap Vaghela's phones, then on July 26 to watch his movements as GPCC chief, and again on September 2, 2002.

On June 7, 2002, Modi's principal secretary Mishra gave Sreekumar Haren Pandya's mobile number and asked him to tap the phone. Sreekumar notes how the top bureaucrats of the state did not like his candid presentation before CEC Lyngdoh. He was even admonished for giving an answer that did not conform to a reply given by deputy PM LK Advani in Parliament.

One entry of April 17 notes how Modi asked DGP Chakravarthi to book a few Muslim leaders, who were likely to disturb the holding of board examinations.

Modi apparently suggested that such persons be booked for some pending cases under investigation". The same day, Modi asked Sreekumar to keep a watch on police inspector YA Shaikh, then in CID (crime), Congress corporator Hasan Lala and other Congress leaders "who are allegedly instigating Muslims to attack Hindus".

Sreekumar says that Modi rubbished a note prepared by him on the communal situation at a meeting on May 7, 2002 and asked him to concentrate on "Muslim militants". He told him "not to concentrate on the Sangh Parivar as they are not doing anything illegal". In fact, Modi said he would provide him the intelligence on the Sangh. Modi was not available to reply to Sreekumar's charges.

Sreekumar was transferred out of the intelligence branch in September 2002 after he submitted a report on Modi's utterances against the minorities during the Gaurav Yatra before the National Minorities Commission.

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