Radia tapes: CBI to examine more journalists, business honchos

CBI will approach Supreme Court soon seeking more time to probe intercepted communications of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia as it has lined up examination of some prominent journalists and business honchos whose conversations have come under scrutiny of the agency.
CBI sources said the agency would give details of examinations carried out by it in connection with 14 preliminary enquiries arising out of tapped conversations.
They said a journalist from a TV channel and a senior executive of a leading newspaper group have already been examined by the agency.
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.

They said agency would approach the apex court next week after winter vacations to apprise it with the progress report in the case.
The apex court bench headed by Justice G S Singhvi had ordered the CBI to probe on 14 issues that were identified by the investigating agency after going through the transcript of the Radia tapes submitted to it by the Income Tax department.

The court has also referred one of the criminality dimensions to the Chief Vigilance Officer of the department of mines for investigation.
One matter has been referred to the Chief Justice of India. The investigating agency was asked to submit its probe report to the court within two months but CBI would now submit its report after winter vacation of the apex court.

"Radia's conversations reveal deep-rooted malice by private enterprises in connivance with government officials for extraneous purposes," the Supreme Court had said.
Using strong words, the court had said the telephonic conversations suggest corrupt means being adopted by private parties to extract gains.