The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has told the Supreme Court that no criminality has been found after examining former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia’s tape conversations with several politicians, industrialists and government officials. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that after probing the tape conversations of former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia with several politicians, industrialists and government officials,
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the CBI, apprised a bench headed by Justice Dhananjay Y Chandrachud about the sealed cover report submitted by the agency in 2015 with regard to the outcome of the court-ordered investigation. In all these years the matter was not taken up by the court.
“No criminality has been found during the investigation. A sealed cover report has been submitted to the court and the results of the investigation have also been sent to the concerned departments.
The CBI is expected to file the latest status report before the matter is taken up by the court in October. The report has been submitted by the CBI in relation to a writ petition filed by industrialist Ratan Tata, seeking a probe into the leak of audio tapes involving Radia, which he said was a violation of his privacy, on the other hand, The NGO, Center for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), pressed for an investigation of the tapes and demanded that all of them be made public.
In October 2013, the top court directed the CBI to probe 14 issues that the agency had identified after examining the tapes of over 5,800 taped conversations of Radia, which were originally referred to probe tax evasion. As part it was intercepted by the government between 2008 and 2009.
The CBI has registered 14 Preliminary Investigations (PEs) in the case to probe possible crimes that came to light in conversations between corporate lobbyists and high-profile individuals and corporates. All the cases are now closed due to lack of sufficient evidence.
Ordering an inquiry in 2013, the Supreme Court said: “Interactions by private enterprises with government officials and others for external purposes are indicative of deep-rooted ones. Interested persons have obtained benefits from government officials and others which is suggestive of corrupt means being adopted by private parties to gain profit.
Written By: Karan Suri
