NEW DELHI - Indian Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda ordered a federal probe yesterday into reports of a telephone-tapping scandal which has threatened to undermine his fragile coalition government.
Government officials said Mr Deve Gowda has asked Mr Joginder Singh, head of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to "find out the truth and clear up any possible doubt on the issue" through an "impartial investigation".
A letter to the CBI chief, the prime minister also reiterated that at no time had he issued instructions to tap the telephones of rival politicians, the home ministry officials said.
