In this conversation, Meena not only briefed him on government policy but also provided him with a name and number of another officer he could call.

That’s not all.

In his briefing to the government, Meena merely claimed that he received a call from “someone called Kishenji.” He didn’t mention what had transpired, unaware that the phone Kishenji used was being monitored and that his conversation with Meena had been taped by the Home Department.

Sources told The Sunday Express that Kishenji called Meena at 11.30 pm on Wednesday.

The Maoist leader is said to have asked Meena why the government was allowing sponge-iron factories in Jhargram. Meena told Kishenji the government had an action plan in tune with specific Supreme Court guidelines.

When Kishenji wanted to know these guidelines, Meena offered to give him the name of state Pollution Control Board scientific officers. Meena named one and when Kishenji asked for his number, Meena told him to call back.

Kishenji called back and Meena gave Kishenji a cell number. When Kishenji said that the number, curiously had 11 digits when it should have had only 10, Meena regretted the “mix-up.” It’s then that the link snapped and Kishenji did not call back.

Sources said Meena called Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen and told him that “someone by the name of Kishenji” had called. Sen is said to have asked Meena to report it to the Chief Secretary.

When asked about the call, Meena declined to comment. Told there was a discrepancy between what he had reported to the Chief Secretary and the conversation he had, Meena said: “That’s for the government to ask me. I have no comment.”