The Income-Tax Department on Friday denied leaking ‘Radia tapes’. Responding to the Tata Group Chairman, Mr Ratan Tata’s petition, the Department, in an affidavit before the Supreme Court, said a probe was on into the leak. The Department said if it was established that any service provider was responsible for the leak, a competent authority should take action. It also said that it was not possible to retrieve copies of the transcripts that have appeared in the media.
The phone tapping was done after the Finance Minister received a complaint in 2007 alleging that corporate lobbyist Ms Niira Radia was an agent of foreign intelligence agencies and was indulging in anti-national activities. It was alleged that Ms Radia had in just nine years built-up business of Rs 300 crore.
The Department said the phone interception was done after securing approvals. It said a copy of the recordings of 5,800 calls was given to the CBI, and ruled out destruction of records since a probe was on.
Earlier this month, perusing Mr Tata’s petition, the apex court had issued notices to the Centre, including Home Ministry, Finance Ministry, CBI, Income Tax Department as well as Outlook and Open magazines that had published the contents of the tapes. The matter is coming up for hearing on December 13.
