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Sunday, Dec 12, 2010
Place: New Delhi
Agency: DNA
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A day after the Supreme Court told the Tata Group that it could not put an injuction on the publishing of the ‘Radia tapes’, Outlook magazine, which had earlier released more than 105 tapes of alleged conversations between corporate lobbyist Nira Radia and industry as well as media bigwigs, re-opened the Pandora’s Box.
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It released a fresh set of recordings which, Outlook claims, comprise only a few of the nearly 800 new ones it has in its possession.
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The new tapes underline the nexus between the corporate world and politicians, raising questions about a high-profile cabinet minister who appears habitually corrupt, according to an d conversation between Radia and a former head of India’s biggest industry federation, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
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The tape, among the 20 released by the magazine on its website on Saturday evening, plays out a conversation which discusses, among other things, the great ‘fall’ of a former trade minister to a less glamorous portfolio. “He needs to build some roads,” the alleged voice of CII chief comments on the transfer of portfolio.
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The minister had been considered a ‘success’ in his previous avatar as the trade minister, and commended for his skills as a negotiator in international trade fora.
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Both participants in the conversation seem to agree that the ‘demotion’ was intended to put the minister in his place. “He needed to be told that he has gone overboard,” suggests the female voice, while the alleged voice of the CII chief adds: “This is a very strong message.”
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The alleged voice of the CII chief then goes on to point out that the new portfolio is not so bad, especially if the minister wants to make money.
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“You can make your 15% on this. You can do national service and also make money... And really do something worthwhile,” the male voice suggests.
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Then, in another part of the recording, the alleged voice of the former CII chief says, “Baalu has screwed us for five years,” apparently referring to another minister, DMK leader TR Baalu, who remained in charge of surface transport for many years. Balu’s reign saw slow progress on many of India’s premier roads and infrastructure projects — a fact regularly rued by industry association chiefs.
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It may be recalled that the interception of phones was done by the income tax department and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) while probing an alleged “criminal conspiracy” between certain public servants and private individuals in the grant of telecom licences in 2007-08. Ratan Tata (Tata Group is a client of Radia’s) had approached the Supreme Court to prevent further publication of the tapes.
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The court, however, refused to grant an immediate injunction, but has asked the government to respond to Tata’s concerns. The I-T department, which had only recently promised prevention of leaks, had allegedly tapped Radia’s phone on suspicion that she was involved in financial crimes, while the enforcement directorate has grilled her subsequently on the same issue. With agency inputs
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COMMENT:
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One fails to understand the 'coyness' of the daily DNA, when it wrote : " The new tapes underline the nexus between the corporate world and politicians, raising questions about a high-profile cabinet minister who appears habitually corrupt, according to an alleged conversation between Radia and a former head of India’s biggest industry federation, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
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Since the daily 'quotes' OUTLOOK, here is what OUTLOOK published: 2.12 11-188819-0-19-20090529-172935: Radia with Tarun Das
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Radia is on the line to Tarun Das, former head of CII. Das says that he had suggested Kamal Nath's name for surface transport ministry. He says Kamal Nath is a doer and can “make his 15 per cent” while doing some national service. Das adds that he had suggested Kamal Nath's name for the portfolio “big time”. Das also says that industry is a new area for Anand Sharma and that they would have to educate and brief him. He also speaks about talking to Montek Singh Ahluwalia about exiting the CII and that he would speak to the PM about it because Montek wants him to. Radia tells Tarun Das that Ratan Tata was very worried about Maran taking over telecom, but is very happy now that Raja has come in."
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URL : http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268618
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Thus, DNA is referring to Minister Kamal Nath. And, the CII 'MAN' is Tarun Das. And, Kamal Nath appears to be a 'Habitual Offender' !! Here is some interesting reading !!
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In 1989, the 'undivided' - ' The Indian Express ' - with Arun Shourie as its Editor, having been reinstated by Ramnath Goenka, published an 'investigative report'. It was entitled : "An M.P. And Two Accounts".
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Arun Shourie in his "These Lethal, Inexorable Laws : Rajiv, His Men & Regime" (ASA) - (1992), wrote :
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" On an Article, 'An M.P. and Two Accounts', I stated that the Enforcement Directorate had concluded that a firm of Kamal Nath, a Congress (I) M.P., had been maintaining two foreign accounts ILLEGALY; that the
Directorate had raided the premises of the firm and the residences of the owners etc; that officials had recovered
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CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE; that the raid had been ABORTED ON ORDERS FROM DELHI; and that the officers had been made to return the evidence they had gathered. I [Arun Shourie] had volunteered to furnish evidence of all this to Parliament or any body it might constitute to examine the question. Kamal Nath proclaimed innocence. The matter went to a forum completely dominated by the Congress (I) - The Privileges Committee". (pp-139)
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Arun Shourie on behalf of the 'Indian Express', had produced seven documents to the Privileges Committee. The ' vital ' seventh document and marked 'Top Secret' was a report by Mr.M.L. Bapat, the then Asst.Director of Enforcement, who had led the raids on Kamal Nath's firm.
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Excerpts from three paragraphs from the report:
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- " From the residence of Sri Vinod Pai a Fixed Deposit advice, account No. 1519944 - A showing deposit advice, account for $12,560.07 maturing on 30 Mar 1984 issued by Lombard North Central Plc., 17 Burton Street, London was seized. Sri Pai was questioned with ref. to the Fixed Deposit and a statement was recorded from him wherein he had admitted that while he was working in Dubai he maintained the above FD and he had not reported the existence to the RBI. Since this FD was to mature on 30-03-'84, the deposited amount of $12,560.07 would have amounted to a bigger amount till date".
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- " The searches in the above mentioned three premises of EMC Steelal Ltd. had been continuing. During the course of the search we have come across existence of two foreign currency accounts mentioned in the Source reports with the banks in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. We have also come across certain commissions received by EMC but not repatriated to India. We have come across transfer of funds from USA to Dubai which they kept in Fixed Deposit. We have also come across certain payments made to parties on behalf of EMC. We have further come across transactions revealing under invoicing of exports".
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- " When searches were going on, there was call from Spl. Director of Enforcement at about 5:30 p.m. on 31-05-85. Since this was received by AEO, Dy. Director wanted to confirm it by telephoning the SDE himself. Therefore a call was put through to the Spl.Director (Sri D.C. Kohli) at about 7:00 p.m. on 31-05-85 when the searches were still continuing. On advice from the Special Director, the searches in the premises of M/S EMC Steelal Ltd. and in other three places referred to above have been withdrawn and NIL panchnamas in three places have been drawn". (pp-144-145)
This goes to the 'Privileges Committee of Parliamnet'. A Congress (I) dominated forum. Result foregone !! Only thing -
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THEY COULD DO NOTHING TO SHOURIE. However, the Note of Dissent ' by three members of the Privileges Committee - Mr.Somnath Chatterjee, Mr.V.S. Krishna Iyer and Mr.K.Ramachandra Reddy - and their anguished plea is worth noting:
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"When it became clear that the Ministry of Finance had sent to the Committee a document, which on the face of it called for further clarification, we were prevented from going to the bottom of the matter. We were also prevented from scertaining how the RBI had suddenly taken up a different attitude, although it was earlier decided that the RBI would be called upon to give clarification on the question". (pp-160)
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Again. " As mentioned earlier, Shri Shourie gave a list if seven documents, which he wanted to be summoned by the Committee. The documents were duly summoned by the Committee. But we are unhappy, to say the least, that initially we were told that the documents would not be given to the Members of the Committee [All of them - M.P.'s!!]. - - -. We protested and still protest against such practice, specially when the documents had nothing to do with the security and integrity of the country". (pp-160)
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