2G scam: SC demands Radia tapes for safekeeping

The Supreme Court today directed the union government to deposit with the registry the original recordings of conversations of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia in connection with the 2G spectrum scandal.

A bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly, which is hearing the case, said the original recordings should be deposited in a sealed cover in a hard disk, in tapes and on CDs.

 ''We direct that the original records and tapes / CDs be submitted in a sealed cover after preparing the copies. It will be kept in the lockers of the Supreme Court registry and if required, it will be considered for its use,'' the court said.

The direction came after the government submitted that it has no objection in handing over the complete set of tapes in the wake of apprehensions that the tapes may be destroyed.

Solicitor general Gopal Subramanium said that he has got instructions that there was no objection in handing over the tapes and the court can give direction for preserving them in whatever way it thinks best.

The apex court had on Tuesday asked the government to respond to the plea for preserving the tapes containing conversation between Radia and others relating to the 2G spectrum scam.