New Delhi, Oct 18: The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into various criminal aspects of former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia’s conversations with prominent people. The apex court noted that it reflected “a deep-rooted malice” and showed that private people connived with government officials for illegal gain.
A bench of justices G S Singhvi and C Nagappan told the CBI to probe into seven issues, which the court stumbled upon while going through transcripts of the conversations.
The CBI had referred 16 matters, but the court favoured inquiry into only nine. Allegations against a high court judge was referred to the chief justice of India for consideration.
Another matter was marked to the vigilance department of the Ministry of Mines for action.
“The conversations are indicative of the deep-rooted malice by private enterprises in connivance with government officials and others for extraneous purposes. Interested persons have secured gains from government officers and others which are suggestive of corrupt means being adopted by private parties to extract gains,” the bench said.
It, however, rejected a plea by a team which transcribed the conversations, to refer five issues to the state police.
The also court directed further examination of the tapped conversations. It asked the CBI to register a preliminary enquiry and file a report after two months.
The issues (criminalities) to be probed by the CBI were not disclosed. The court directed all agencies to maintain secrecy until something concrete emerged.
The bench on October 8 indicated that there would be a court-monitored investigation into the criminalities.
Additional Solicitor General Paras Kuhad, appearing for the CBI, confirmed criminality in the Radia tapes case on July 31.
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