Later, on 11 May, 2009, her phone was again put on surveillance for another 60 days following a fresh order given on 8 May. The government had recorded 180 days of Radia's conversations - first from 20 August, 2008 onwards for 60 days and then from 19 October for another 60 days. The conversations were recorded as part of surveillance of Radia's phone on a complaint to the Finance Minister on 16 November, 2007 alleging that within a span of nine years she had built up a business empire worth Rs 300 crore. The apex court had decided on in-camera hearing after it found that many controversial and sensitive information and names of people figure in the various reports disclosure of which in public domain could harm national interest and could tarnish the image of people till they were established. The apex court on 29 August had conducted two-hour-long in-camera proceedings in the case for knowing the Centre's stand and perusing "top secret" documents which formed the basis for interception of her calls. The bench said it would also hear on 22 October, the petition filed by former Tata Chief Ratan Tata seeking action against those allegedly responsible for the leakage of the ape and his plea for right to privacy. He said despite the fact that there is sufficient evidence that the education of the daughter of a former Director General of Hydrocarbons was funded by a corporate house, the probe agency was trying to close the case.īhushan said the investigation into the case should be monitored by the apex court and the entire tapped conversation, barring personal in nature, should be put in public domain so that public spirited persons from civil society can see as to what could be done. The bench asked Kuhad to share the report with another Additional Solicitor General L Nageshwar Rao who was appearing for the Income Tax Department.Īdvocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation, which has sought making all the recorded conversations public, alleged that CBI was on the verge of closing a case which has found a mention in the tapped talks. It decided to hear the matter again on Tuesday to pass some orders on the initial probe done by a specially constituted team of investigators which went through the call details and transcripts.Īdditional Solicitor General Paras Kuhad said in some of the items which came under the investigation, the conversations "reflect certain degree of criminality" and cases can be registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act. "We will give enough time to scrutinise the entire tape either by same team or whatever team you choose or by the initial team of the income tax department which intercepted Radia's conversation," the bench said. The agencies involved must be given enough time to completely look into the matter," the bench said. Till something is found, it should not become a matter of speculation because it harms the national interest. "On national security, you (CBI) have to be very cautious which we pointed out. There is serious cloud on some of the issues," the bench observed. Our perception was that everything was related to spectrum etc but it is far more wide and different altogether. "They are throwing light on different aspects. We would not like to have it unless some substantial material is found." "On the aspect of the security of the nation, the report is hazy but extremely serious and needs thorough scrutiny of the call details. However, it cautioned that "there should not be one-sided view" and there should be a thorough probe supported by material as the issues are "extremely serious". Observing that "the recent issue concerning the Railway Board Member" also comes to light on scrutiny of the intercepted conversations of Radia, a bench of justices GS Singhvi and V Gopal Gowda said, "actually money is paid".
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