Government asks IB, CBDT to probe Radia tape leaks

The government has ordered an inquiry into how recorded conversations between corporate lobbyist Nira Radia and various businessmen were leaked.

The Intelligence Bureau and the Central Board of Direct Taxes will reportedly examine the leak. The transcripts of close to 100 conversations have been reported by several magazines over the last few weeks.

This morning, Ratan Tata filed a petition in the Supreme Court, seeking direction to the union government to order an inquiry into the leak. Tata, who is chairman of the Tata Group, is among those whose conversations with Radia were leaked.

Radia was questioned last week by the Enforcement Directorate. In 2008-2009, her phone was tapped, allegedly by the income tax department, as part of an investigation into companies suspected of possible money laundering and tax evasion.

The CBI has told the Supreme Court that Radia's role will be investigated as part of an inquiry into the 2G scam which allegedly cost the country Rs1,76,000 crore, and forced the resignation of A Raja as telecom minister earlier this month.

Raja was indicted by the government's auditor, which said he undervalued 2G spectrum to award it at throwaway rates to a group of companies that he favoured, and which had submitted incomplete or incorrect information in their applications for spectrum licences in 2008.

Tata has also made the central government a party in his petition. Prashant Bhushan, a well-known lawyer who has filed a public interest litigation seeking prosecution of former telecom minister A Raja, said he would robustly contest any injunction sought by the 72-year-old industrialist.
 
"We are seriously considering filing an application in the Supreme Court to ensure there is no injunction against these tapes and these recordings are put out in the public domain," he said.

The tapes had come into the public domain recently after certain media groups published transcripts of the same. According to the CBI, which is probing the alleged 2G spectrum scam, it was examining transcripts relating to 5,000 calls. Nearly 104 tapping records are out in the market, reports said.