Cops probe unauthorised calls from ED's phone

The Delhi Police are investigating complaints that unknown persons have used the Enforcement Director’s official phone to call many, including Karnataka Minister D K Shivakumar, to issue them summons.

Officials said the case appears to be one of caller ID spoofing since the ED head’s official phone does not reflect the calls, while those claim to have received them have the ED’s number on their records.

The ED usually sends summons by registered post or through its officials and never summons people by phone calls.

The ED complained to the police that unauthorised phone calls were made from director Karnal Singh’s official landline phone to let people know that they have been summoned.

Shivakumar called

Sources said one such call had been made to D K Shivakumar, quizzed by the I-T department last month.

I-T sleuths searched his offices and residence in Bengaluru last month.

The ED, in its complaint to the Economic Offences Wing (EoW), said a similar call was made last week to a Delhi-based person asking for his address to deliver a summons under PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act).

The issue came to light when those receiving such calls informed the ED.

Sources said the police are looking for people who made the calls and their motives.

Meanwhile, Energy minister D K Shivakumar told
reporters in Bengaluru that he had received two phone calls from the Enforcement Directorate officials.

“I got a call yesterday (Tuesday) and today (Wednesday) from somebody claiming that they were from the Enforcement Directorate. When I cross-checked, it was established that the call had indeed come from the ED. They called to get my address — they said they wanted to send me a notice. I told my brother (MP D K Suresh) about the phone calls. I am not sure whether he has made any enquiries in this regard. I have not discussed this matter with anybody else,” he said.

DH News Service