Thaindian News

New Delhi, Apr 1 (ANI): The Supreme Court will hear Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata’ plea to stop further publication of the contents of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia tapes today.

Tata is also seeking a thorough inquiry into the leakage of the tapes.

In his petition, earlier, Tata said that he was not satisfied with the approach” of the Government investigations into the Niira Radia tapes.

He also sought action against those involved in the leakage of tapes alleging that such an act amounts to an infringement of his fundamental Right to Life, which includes the right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The petition, prepared under the guidance of senior advocate Harish Salve has contended, that since Radia’s phone was tapped for the purposes of alleged tax evasion, it cannot be used for any other purpose.

It has sought reply affidavits from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Union Finance Ministry, I-T department and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to find out how the tapes were leaked.

The apex court had also directed the two magazines, which had published the conversations, be made parties to the petition by Tata and have issued notices to them also.

Radia, who runs a public relations agency to promote the interests of several corporate houses with interest in telecom, shot into fame after the publication of leaked tapes of her telephone conversations with politicians, industrialists, bureaucrats and journalists.

The conversations were taped by the Income-Tax Department in 2008-09 as part of investigations into the operations of her firm. Select portions of the tapes came into public domain after they were leaked by unidentified persons. (ANI)