Supreme Court asks govt. to produce complaint against Niira Radia

NEW DELHI - The Supreme Court today asked the government to submit the copy of the complaint regarding tapping of lobbyist Niira Radia’s conversations with a host of people including politicians, corporate leaders and media personalities.

A bench comprising Justices G. S. Singhvi and A. K. Ganguly said: “The Attorney General may produce the copy of the complaint in a sealed cover.”

The court was hearing Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata’s petition seeking an investigation into the leakage of tapes containing his private conversation with Radia.

The bench allowed Tata to file a further affidavit and response to the government affidavit on his petition by the first week of January 2011.

According to the bench said two magazines ‘Open’ and ‘Outlook’ will file their replies within next three weeks and listed the matter for further hearing on February 2.

Attorney General G. E. Vahanvati said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would not file affidavit in this matter.

Senior advocates Anil Divan and Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for Outlook and Open magazines respectively, submitted that Tata’s petition was not in public interest and it was rather intended at protecting his private interest.

Divan said Tata’s writ petition does not even raise any cause of action for being entertained by the court.

Responding to the submissions made by senior advocate Harish Salve, Divan said Salve appearing for Tata has raised questions, which do not figure in the petition.

Both Divan and Dhawan said all these points raised by Salve should be put in an affidavit so that they can file the reply.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had earlier questioned Radia for her alleged role in the scam.

Radia was summoned after the tapes exposed how she had allegedly lobbied with senior journalists and telecom companies and asked them to pay their part in the 2Gscam. (ANI)