The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the CBI to probe six issues relating to the conversations between corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and others and submit a report within two months.
A Bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and V. Gopala Gowda ordered the CBI probe after examining the report of the Income-Tax department with reference to the criminal dimensions in the conversations.
The court had earlier sought the I-T department inquiry on a writ petition filed by industrialist Ratan Tata.
The court said, “Collusion between government officials and private interest is apparent after perusing the transcripts of the tapes.”
The Bench, in its order, did not name the issues but merely indicated them as 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 14 as the I-T department’s report was in a sealed cover. During the course of hearing, the judges had asked the government to transcribe over 8,000 conversations in the tapes, but the I-T department, which set up a committee, informed the court that it could cover only a portion of the tapes. The committee’s report was shared with the CBI on court directions. The CBI found several aspects of criminality which required to be probed further. The investigative agency suggested that some of them be referred to the States for probe but the Bench rejected the suggestion and asked the CBI itself to conduct the investigation.
On earlier occasions, the court had expressed concern that some of the conversations might even affect national security.
Besides the six issues referred to the CBI, the Bench referred to Chief Justice of India P. Sathasivam an issue relating to the judiciary and one issue to the Chief Vigilance Officer of the Mines Department.
The court posted the matter for December 16.
