CBI considers option of closing probe into Tata-Unitech deal

Supreme Court had not directed agency to carry out more investigations into the matter

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After re-opening a probe into whether funds from the Rs 1,700 crore Tata Realty-Unitech land deal were diverted for spectrum purchase, the CBI is mulling the option of closing the case again.

The CBI is considering the closure of the case soon on the ground that the Supreme Court had not directed the agency to carry out more investigations into the matter.

The probe was opened afresh last October by former CBI Chief Ranjit Sinha, who had reasoned that if Reliance could be investigated for the same alleged offence, then why no probe had been carried against Tata Realty and Unitech.

Sinha had also informed the Supreme Court about re-starting the probe against the two companies. However, both the companies had said that there was no illegality in the land deal in 2007 and no money from the deal was used to bid for spectrum by Unitech Wireless.

After the retirement of Sinha on December two, the officials probing the case including the Superintendent of Police Vivek Priyadarshi and Deputy Inspector General Santosh Rastogi had written on the file that the matter be closed as there were no set of instructions from the Supreme Court.

It may be mentioned that during the tenure of Sinha, Rastogi had sought recusal from the Tata Realty-Unitech case and sought transfer from the CBI. However, this proposal was shot down by the Supreme Court and Rastogi was asked to continue with the agency.

CBI has reopened an earlier Preliminary Enquiry (PE) to probe an alleged Rs 1,700 crore land deal between Tata Realty and Unitech in 2007.