SC dissatisfied over IT probe into 2G scam

The tardy probe against corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and others for alleged tax evasion connected with 2G spectrum scam came in for sharp criticism from the Supreme Court which directed Income Tax department to be quicker and not to treat these cases in an "ordinary way."

The court said it wants "result" in the cases describing as "mind boggling" the figures in the transactions mentioned in the first report submitted by the IT department and observing it has not seen "so many zeros in our life".

"The IT department must be quicker. This is not a normal case of tax evasion. It (probe) should have been done fast. These are not ordinary cases to be handled in ordinary way," a bench of justices GS Singhvi and AK Ganguly said after going through the report given in a sealed envelope.

"We would like to see the entire report on the action taken by you in the last three years when the department started probing on the complaint (filed against Radia). We would see what you have done after we started monitoring the case (of 2G scam)," the bench said directing the department to place the complete report before it on May 13.

The department, however, defended its ongoing probe saying the investigation has entered the "fifth layer" and that the approach towards the case has not been tardy.

The court, however, was not satisfied and said, "We are not concerned about layers but results."

The bench also expressed surprise over the magnitude of transactions mentioned in the report saying "figures are mind boggling".

"We have never seen so many zeros in our life. Not even half of what has been mentioned here except in school mathematics classes," the bench observed.

It also allowed the IT department to approach the special judge, trying the 2G case, to interrogate corporate honchos and other accused who are in judicial custody for their alleged role in the scam.

In the meanwhile, CBI today refuted the allegation made by the petitioner which had contended that the big corporate players like Reliance ADAG Chairman Anil Ambani, Essar Group CEO Prashant Ruia and Tatas are being treated differently.

Senior Advocate KK Venugopal, appearing for the CBI and ED, submitted that no person involved in the scam would be let off and that "investigation is still going on against Reliance and Tatas".

The investigating agency also submitted that it will file fresh status report on the ongoing investigation in 2G scam after the summer vacation.