Aircel-Maxis deal: CBI may probe Niira Radia tapes

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) may look into the taped conversations of former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia, in connection with the spectrum allocated to Malaysian telecom company Maxis in a venture with Aircel, a matter being probed by the agency.

Of the 16 instances of criminality related to the taped conversations cited by the CBI before the Supreme Court, the agency said it could investigate only two.

Besides Radia’s conversation with a Department of Telecommunications official on spectrum allocation to Maxis, another taped call record regarding an oil and gas deal could also come under the scanner. To proceed with both, the agency is awaiting a Supreme Court directive. CBI had engaged an external auditor to study the valuation of the Aircel-Maxis deal, before it finalised its probe in the case, said a CBI official.

AGENCY TALK

• | CBI says can investigate only two of 16 instances of criminality related to the taped conversations
• | Radia’s conversation with a Department of Telecommunications official on spectrum allocation to Maxis, a call record regarding an oil and gas deal could come under CBI’s scanner
• | Agency suggests probes by Income Tax Department, the Securities and Exchange Board of India and others for remaining 14 cases

For the remaining 14 cases, the CBI has suggested the names of agencies in the Income Tax Department, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, etc.

A two-judge bench led by G S Sighvi had criticised the government for its reluctance to probe aspects other than the 2G spectrum case based on Radia’s conversations. “Virtually, in every government field, private persons, you call them liasoning officers or middlemen, are present in every nook and corner,” the bench had said. It added Radia’s conversations weren’t confined only to the telecom sector; these contained information about trans-border transactions, the acquisition of a company, and other vital issues.

The conversations were recorded as part of a surveillance of Radia’s phone. This followed a complaint to the finance minister on November 16, 2007, alleging in nine years, Radia had built a business empire of Rs 300 crore.