New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India had asked to the Income Tax department and CBI for not taking action in the last five years on information gathered from tapped phone conversations of Niira Radia with leading corporate world personalities, politicians and others.
A bench of justices G S Singhvi and V Gopala Gowda said that the conversations were tapped five years ago but government authorities remained idle and questioned whether they were waiting for the court’s order to act.
The bench of apex court asks, “The tapping was done five years ago, what they (government authorities) have done so far? Were they waiting for court’s order?” The bench also stated, “It is not a happy situation that action will be taken only after court’s order.”
Government had recorded phone call of Radia from August 20, 2008 onwards for 60 days and then from October 19 for another 60 days. Radia’s phone was again put on surveillance for another 60 days following a fresh order given on May 8. Government had recorded conversations of Niira Radia for total 180 days.
Court also asked the IT department to place all original records pertaining to authorization of tapping of Radia’s phones before the bench.
The bench directed the IT department to comply with its order by August 6 when the matter will be taken up for further hearing.
On the complaint of Finance Minister in November 2007 alleging that within a span of nine years she had built up a business empire worth Rs 300 crore, the conversations were recorded as part of surveillance of Radia’s phone.
Bureau Report
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