Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Tuesday dismissed a media report about the state police tapping telephones of political leaders, journalists and others, terming it as baseless and speculative.

Responding to Pattali Makkal Katchi Floor Leader G K Mani in the state assembly, who raised the issue during the Zero Hour, the Chief Minister said the report by an English daily was mischievous and speculative.

The intelligence wing of the state police was only monitoring the activities of those who were acting against national interest and sovereignty, he said.

The daily had reported that the telephones of leaders of political parties, academicians, businessmen, lawyers, journalists and police officers were being tapped "in the guise of monitoring militant and anti-national activities."

It also listed several telephone numbers, claiming that they were being monitored.

Rebutting the charge, Karunanidhi wondered whether all the reports that appear in dailies were true. "The PMK-supported daily, Tamilosai, published a report that Kanimozhi (his daughter) is going to be inducted into the Union Cabinet. Is it true?"

Coming down heavily on the English daily, Karunanidhi said "I know well why that daily made a foray into Chennai. I also know that how and through whom it came to the city." Some newspapers were spreading false news just for the sake of publicity, he charged.

Earlier, Mani said that the list of telephone numbers, which were allegedly being tapped, included that of PMK founder S Ramadoss and some party MLAs.

He wanted to know whether the government had given permission to the intelligence wing for the phone tapping. "When there are other important issues that cry for attention, why did the police take up such a task?" he asked.