The Centre Saturday said the tapping of telephone of Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh was a sting operation organised by a private party and there was no involvement of any political party or personality behind it.

Quoting from Delhi police commissioner's communication, Union Home Secretary V K Duggal told reporters in Delhi, "I wish to confirm that the investigations reveal that the phone tapping case was a sting operation by a private party for monetary and other gains. I wish to futher inform that there are no indications of any political party or political personality being involved."

He said this was important because often questions were asked about involvement of political parties and personalities.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh have been targeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi [Images] accusing her of having directed the tapping of the phones of Amar Singh and some other Samajwadi Party leaders.

• Who tapped Amar Singh's phone?

The Congress and the government had denied the charge.

Duggal said investigations were progressing and he was certain that chargesheet in the case would be filed soon.

• Amar Singh appears before police

Meanwhile, police Saturday questioned Ashok Chaturvedi, chairman of Flex Industries [Get Quote], who is believed to have tipped off Amar Singh about his phones being under surveillance.

A team of Special Cell officers of Delhi police, who are investigating the case, interrogated Chaturvedi at their Lodhi Road office Saturday afternoon, police sources said.

Police had recorded Amar Singh's statement in the matter Friday wherein he is understood to have told them about his "close friend" Chaturvedi's role in the matter.