The Tatas have decided to go on the offensive over the issue of public disclosure of tape-recorded telephone conversations pertaining to the alleged links between Tata Tea and Ulfa.
The main points of their gameplan include preparing and publishing a detailed white paper on the affair and intensifying lobbying with the government. They are also examining the possibility of legal action against Indian Express for publishing the records of the conversation.
Tata Sons director S A Sabavala said the group is consulting lawyers and legal advisors and will decide its course of action soon. We dont know who ordered the tapping, but we can certainly take legal action against those who used the illegal tapes. It is like using stolen property for your benefit, he said.
The Tatas gameplan received a boost after the Mumbai High Court extended the scope of the anticipatory bail for Tata Tea managing director K Krishna Kumar and executive director Saeed Kidwai to cover any case arising out of the companys alleged involvement with Ulfa.
Meanwhile, Tata group chairman Ratan Tata will fly to Delhi on October 14 to attend a meeting of industrialists with Prime Minister I K Gujral. The phone tapping episode is expected to be taken up at the meeting.
The issue also continued to raise political hackles yesterday with senior Congress leader Sharad Pawar saying he would officially take up the issue with the government. Nobody had the authority or right to tap telephones, said Pawar. Tomorrow, my own telephone may be tapped, he remarked.
Assam Chief Minister P K Mahanta also shot off an angry response to advocate Ram Jeth-malanis letter, questioning his neutrality in the issue.
More reports on Page 2n Bombay House ls legal action Industry to grill Gujral on Oct 14 Scope of bail for Tata executives extended
