Ed Nabs Iltd Officials Burning Files By Ed

Half-burnt files were seized by the ED sleuths in connection with the on-going probe against ITC. The ED sleuths were accompanied by officials of the department of central excise. Sources said the records maintained at the office in some of the computers were "completely cleaned".

Another senior ITC executive director R P Agarwal remained untraced. ED officials said efforts were on to find him.

Former ITC chairman J N Sapru and former international business division director G K P Reddy have made applications for some special amenities while in custody.

Meanwhile in Calcutta yesterday, ILTD executive vice-president R Ranganathan confirmed the directorates suspicions of Fera violations in the division's dealings between 1990 and 1996.

 

Without naming those responsible, Ranganathan admitted to violations aggregating $2 million between 1990 and 1992 and further irregularities of $1 million thereafter. The ED grilled ITC executive director Saurabh Misra and Ranganathan through the day.

Speaking to reporters during a brief break in his marathon interrogation session by Enforcement Directorate officials, Rangana-than said the issue of Fera violation was a "contentious and open to legal interpretations", but said he had admitted to certain violations.

He said he had told Enforcement officials that BAT, the foreign parent of ITC, had "absolutely no knowledge of what was going on in the ILTD". "I am not willing to name anyone, but it was all done in the interest of the ITC group," a visibly shaken Ranganathan told reporters.

Rumours that Ranganathan would be arrested were rife till late in the evening, but the Enforcement Directorate officials said it was impossible to say in advance whether such a move would come.