The Indian Express led with a thriller today: India's Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, one of the nation's most powerful politicians with a portfolio that roams far beyond economics, had reported a security breach to the Prime Minister's Office.
- Vijay Mathur/Reuters
- Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had reported a security breach to the Prime Minister's Office. Above, Mr. Mukherjee outside his office.
The headline plastered across the top of the front page conjured up exciting images of dirty dealings, spies, infiltration by foreign enemies or corporate interests.
The evidence: The discovery of 16 "planted adhesives" in ministry offices in North Block in September last year that "suggested a possible surveillance attempt" though the story noted in the third paragraph that no "live microphone" or recording devices were found.
But it looks like the culprit in this juicy crime caper might have been nothing more than chewing gum stuck — as is the habit of anti-social chewers — on, under, or at the edge of desks.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes, which hired private eyes to conduct a surveillance sweep, contended that the adhesives were "planted" at strategic places around the finance minister's and other offices. That included no fewer than three "adhesives" along the edge of Mr. Mukherjee's table.
The Intelligence Bureau, which presumably knows a thing or two about surveillance, disagreed, with two senior officials telling the Expr [...]
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