Ratan Tata moves SC over Radia tape leak

Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata moved the Supreme Court today seeking action against persons responsible for the leakage and ''unauthorised'' publication of tapes of his conversation with corporate lobbyist Niira Radia, alleging that it was violation of his right to privacy.

The head of one of India's most diversified conglomerates argues that the tapes, recorded during income-tax department surveillance of Radia in 2008 and 2009, should be used for the ''public purpose'' of the investigation.

Ratan Tata approached the Supreme Court seeking action against those involved in the leakage of tapes containing his conversation with Radia. In the petition, he has contended that the leakage of the tapes have infringed upon his fundamental right to life, which includes right to privacy.

Tata holds that as Radia's phones were tapped by government agencies specifically for investigating a possible offence, the recorded conversations should have been used for that purpose alone. He feels strongly about the publication of conversations, which have no bearing on the case under investigation.

He, however, makes it clear to the Supreme Court that he does not want to stand in the way of an investigation into the 2G scam in any manner.

Seeking to invoke the writ jurisdiction of the apex court for immediate relief, Tata plans to argue that as Radia's calls were intercepted by the IT department and the recordings were required to be available only to official agencies, it was rather surprising the conversations found their way into the media.