Radia tapes: CBI finds no criminality 'so far'

CBI sources said a journalist from a TV channel and a senior executive of a leading newspaper group have already been examined by the agency

CBI has informed Supreme Court that it has "so far" not found any criminality in the 14 preliminary enquiries registered on the basis of intercepted conversations of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia.

In its status report submitted to the apex court recently, CBI has said most of the conversations were her bragging about connections but so far no concrete evidence has been found which could indicate her direct involvement in corrupt practices, CBI sources said.

The sources said Supreme Court will take cognisance of the status report next week when it would open after winter vacation.

They said CBI would seek from the Supreme Court one month's more time to probe the entire gamut of telephonic conversations which have been handed over to the agency by the Income Tax department.

The sources said the agency has also given details of examinations carried out by it while probing the 14 enquiries registered by it.

They said a journalist from a TV channel and a senior executive of a leading newspaper group have already been examined by the agency.

Besides, executives of Reliance, Unitech and Tata Motors have also been examined by the agency in connection with its enquiries.

According to the sources, several big names of journalism from print and electronic media and corporate world would soon be called by CBI for gathering information on criminal aspects of those conversations.