NEW DELHI: The CBI on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that no criminality has been found in conversations of lobbyist Niira Radia with politicians, industrialists, lawyers and journalists, recorded by the CBDT during 2008-09.
The conversations have rocked the country, creating huge political storm, exposing gross misconduct in public decision-making process, forcing the top court to order CBI probe in 2013.
On Wednesday, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati submitted before a bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud, Hima Kohli and P S Narasimha that a sealed cover report was filed in 2015 by the investigating agency.
"No criminality was found during the investigation," she said.
The court asked the CBI to file the latest status report in October, when it would take up the matter again.
The case before the top court was related to a plea by industrialist Ratan Tata for probe into leak of the tapes, affecting his right to privacy.
NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation led by advocate Prashant Bhushan pleaded for disclosure of tapes in public interest.
On July 31, 2013 while appearing for the CBI, Additional Solicitor General Paras Kuhad had confirmed criminality in the Radia tapes case, and told the court that the agency was willing to start a probe. He had handed over a summary of the analysis of 5,800 tapped conversations.
The court had then ordered the CBI investigation into various contentious conversations, P
pointing to the “deep-rooted malice” and “connivance” of private entrepreneurs with government officials for illegal gains.
The CBI subsequently lodged 14 preliminary enquires.
Read 2013 order by SC ordering CBI probe into Niira Radia tapes
[Read Order]
