Tuesday, July 19 2005 19:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The Mumbai crime branch has centralised its electronic surveillance systems apparently to avoid misuse the phone tapping system by some of its men, police sources said today (July 19, 2005).

The surveillance systems, which had been installed at various crime branch offices in the suburbs, was centralised last year by the crime branch bosses and has now been shifted to the crime branch headquarters at Crawford Market in South Mumbai, the sources said.

According to crime branch officials the decision to centralise the system has been vindicated since the probe into the alleged Salman Khan-Aishwarya Rai audio tape case hints that the tapped telephonic conversation available with the crime branch are susceptible to leak by some one within the Mumbai police.

The decision to centralise the electronic surveillance systems where seniors now keep a close watch was taken after the present Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) took over last year.

The phone tapping equipment which were independently monitored by various crime branch units in the suburbs are now brought under one roof and responsibility fixed on individuals for the surveillance and its protection against misuse, police sources said.

"When you have surveillance equipments spread over the city, the chance of its unauthorised use or misuse of the intelligence gathered cannot be ruled out," a senior crime branch official told sources.

Officials are, however, tight lipped if the decision was taken after noticing specific instances of misuse or merely on suspicion.