New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Monday termed Home Minister P. Chidambaram's statement denying phone tapping of political leaders as "unconvincing" and demanded an "independent probe" into the matter.

"The statement by the home minister denying that any interception/tapping of phone calls of political leaders has taken place, is unconvincing," a CPI-M politburo statement said.

"The government would find it expedient to deny the use of intelligence and security agencies for such surveillance," the statement added.

Making identical statements in both houses of parliament, Chidambaram "categorically" denied reports that the government had ordered the taps.

He said the government had investigated but found "nothing to substantiate" the phone tapping allegations reported in Outlook news magazine.

"I wish to state categorically that no telephone tapping or eavesdropping of political leaders was authorised by the previous UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government. Nor has the present UPA government authorised any such activity," Chidambaram said.

The issue led to three adjournments of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, with the final ones for the day.