Radia Tapes: SC asks Centre, CBI to reply on plea

New Delhi, Nov 13: The

today asked the Centre and

to file replies on a plea seeking to direct the government to take action on the findings of Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), which found "irregularities" in some business transactions after examining

tapes.

A bench of justices G S Singhvi and V Gopala Gowda also asked former Tata chief, Ratan Tata who has filed a plea for not making public tapped conversations of Radia, to file reply within a week.

Immediately after the order was passed and the matter was adjourned for December 2 for the hearing of cases, arising out of Radia's tapped conversation, senior advocate Rajiv Dhawan, appearing for Open Magazine, strongly objected for deferment of hearing.

Dhawan pleaded that the court should hear the case today itself and he be allowed to argue on behalf of the magazine against Tata's petition, but the court turned down his plea. An agitated Dhawan said, "It is highly unfortunate. I don't want to say this at a time when my lordship is retiring but I have to say it is highly unfortunate."

"You are denying me an opportunity to respond on the plea. It is highly arbitrary," he further said. Taking exception to Dhawan's submission, Justice Singhvi rescued himself from the case and said that the matter be listed before another bench.

In the plea filed by NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), referred to a purported letter written by the investigating officer to the Director of SFIO and submitted that cases of serious corporate fraud were allegedly brought out against them, which need to be probed.

PTI