The Supreme Court on Monday sought the copy of the complaint from the government against corporate lobbyist Niira Radia referred to in the affidavit of the income tax department alleging that she was an “agent” of foreign intelligence agency and was indulging in “anti-national” activities.
A bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and A.K. Ganguly in a brief order directed attorney general G.E. Vahnvati to supply in a “sealed cover” the copy of the complaint against Radia, received on November 16, 2007 by the then finance minister, as referred to in the affidavit. “Do you have the copy of the complaint against Ms Radia, we want to look into the complaint?” the bench asked AG during the hearing of Rattan Tata’s petition seeking probe into the leak of Radia tapes.
On the security of the Radia tapes, the bench assured all the parties that since they had been deposited in he “custody of the court” there should be no apprehension of their safety.
The affidavit filed by additional director of tax (investigation) Sushil Kumar last week had stated that in the complaint to the finance minister, it was stated that “Ms Radia had within a short span of nine years built a business empire worth `300 crores, that she was an agent of foreign intelligence agencies and that she was indulging in anti-national activities.”
“On this complaint, it was directed that the matter should be examined,” the affidavit had stated.
The top court order came after the bench during the hearing had cautioned the authorities against bringing the name of any person in public domain or finding it being referred to in “media reports” in a pending case till the matter is decided.
“Till we decide the matter no body’s name should be brought into media and the name is tarnished. Every body has a right to protection of his dignity,” the bench said.