Radia tapes controversy

2021-11-28T08:04:08Z

2001:8003:34A3:800:EDBB:A971:634C:5D35: Undid revision 1054669193 by 119.161.99.114 (talk) vandal

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The '''Radia tapes controversy''' relates to the telephonic conversations between [[Niira Radia]], a political [[lobbyist]] in India, the (then) [[India]]n telecom minister [[A. Raja]], and senior journalists, politicians, and corporate houses, taped by the [[Indian Income Tax Department]] in 2008–09. The tapes were leaked out to the press, and were eventually published by some media outlets and shown by television channels.<ref name="consti">{{cite web |title=Talks at Constitution club - Live baatcheekt with Punya Prasun Bajpai - August 2018 |url=http://constitutionclub.in/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929183707/http://constitutionclub.in/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 September 2017 |publisher=Constitution club / You tube |access-date=13 August 2018}}</ref>

The revelations in the tapes led to accusations of misconduct by many of these people and served a precursor to the 2G scam and a stronger checks for the media. Niira Radia used to run a public relations firm named 'Vaishnavi Communications' which was the object of CBI investigations.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://business-standard.com/india/news/radia-shuts-vaishnavi/454061/ | title=Radia shuts Vaishnavi| newspaper=Business Standard| date=31 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="ibtimes1">{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/84868/20101123/nira-radia-tapes-2g-scam-media-involvement-barkha-dutt-vir-sanghvi.htm|title=Indian media's mighty stand exposed on wrong side of 2G spectrum scam|work=[[International Business Times]]|date=23 November 2010}}</ref><ref name="zeeniraEDscanner">{{cite web|title=2G: 'Lobbyist' Nira Radia under ED scanner|url=http://www.zeenews.com/news670068.html|publisher=[[Zee News]]|date=24 November 2010}}</ref><ref name="msn1">{{cite web|title=Queen of connections : First a quiz. What connects Ratan Tata, Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Mittal? Nira Radia.|url=http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4595860|work=E Jayakrishnan, India Syndicate|publisher=[[MSN]] India|date=22 November 2010|access-date=24 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123122554/http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4595860|archive-date=23 November 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Description==

After getting authorisation from the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Home Ministry]], the Indian Income Tax department<ref name=oneindia /> tapped Radia's phone lines for 300 days<ref>{{cite web | url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/96109/Top%20Stories/%27Radia+lobbied+to+get+Raja+telecom+ministry%27.html | title=Radia lobbied to get Raja telecom ministry | work=[[India Today]] | access-date=23 November 2010 | first=Ashish| last=Khetan}}</ref> in 2008–2009 as part of their investigations into possible money laundering, restricted financial practices, and tax evasion.

In November 2010, ''[[OPEN Magazine, India|OPEN magazine]]''<ref name="openmag1">{{cite web|title=Some Telephone Conversations: Inside the networks of lobbyists and power brokers that dictate how this country is run. |url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/some-telephone-conversations|work=[[OPEN Magazine, India|OPEN Magazine]]|access-date=23 November 2010|date=20 November 2010}}</ref> carried a story which reported transcripts of ''some'' of the telephone conversations of Niira Radia with senior journalists, politicians, and corporate houses, many of whom have denied the allegations.<ref name="Tehelkafallout">{{cite news | url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main47.asp?filename=Ws1911102G_FALLOUT.asp | title=Barkha, Sanghvi in damage control mode after Open allegations | date=19 November 2010 | access-date=23 November 2010 | first=Iftikhar | last=Gilani | newspaper=[[Tehelka]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122013336/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main47.asp?filename=Ws1911102G_FALLOUT.asp | archive-date=22 November 2010 | url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] has announced that they have 5,851 recordings of phone conversations by Radia, some of which outline Radia's attempts to broker deals in relation to the [[2G]] spectrum sale.<ref name="dnacbi5851">{{cite news | url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_leaked-tapes-cbi-says-it-has-5851-recordings_1470650 | title=Leaked tapes: CBI says it has 5,851 recordings | first=Kanu | last=Sharda | newspaper=[[Daily News and Analysis]]}}</ref> The tapes appear to demonstrate how Radia attempted to use some media persons to influence the decision to appoint A. Raja as telecom minister.<ref name=mailtodayjpctape />

In the recorded conversations between Niira Radia and prominent figures, referred to as the Radia Tapes, several prominent figures are heard in conversation with Radia:<ref name="middayphonetap1">{{cite web|title=Phonegate: India Inc tapped? Copy of a purportedly leaked report says conversations of topmost industrialists, two senior journalists, were tapped with home secretary's permission of govt.|url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/apr/290410-india-inc-tapped-phone-tapping-leaked-report-ratan-tata-mukesh-ambani-sunil-mittal.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100502135438/http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/apr/290410-india-inc-tapped-phone-tapping-leaked-report-ratan-tata-mukesh-ambani-sunil-mittal.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 May 2010|publisher=[[Mid-day]]|access-date=23 November 2010|date=29 April 2010}}</ref><ref name="outlookradialines">{{cite news|title=All Lines Are Busy : There was not one pie Niira Radia didn't have her hand in nor any area—media, corporate or government—she didn't have a contact in|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268071|access-date=23 November 2010|newspaper=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]|date=29 November 2010 }}</ref>

=== Politicians ===
* Ranjan Bhattacharya (foster son-in-law of former prime minister [[Atal Behari Vajpayee]])<ref name=outlookradialines /><ref name=dnaSampathblog />
* [[Kanimozhi]]
* [[Andimuthu Raja]]
*[[Arun Jaitley]], senior [[BJP]] politician (later Finance Minister of India from 2014 to 2019)

=== Journalists ===

*[[Barkha Dutt]], then Group editor, English news, New Delhi Television ([[NDTV]]),
* M.K. Venu, then Opinion Editor, The Economic Times.
* [[Prabhu Chawla]],<ref name="chawla">{{cite web|title=Prabhu Chawla Gas judgement discussion|url=http://business.outlookindia.com/view.aspx?vname=IMP-Prabhu%20Chawla%20Gas%20judgement%20discussion-20090620-143207.wav|publisher=Outlook}}</ref> then editor of ''[[India Today]]'' magazine
* Shankar Aiyar, then with India Today Group
* [[Vir Sanghvi]], HT advisory editorial director
* Navika Kumar, Managing Editor - Politics Times Now
* Rohini Singh, then with [[The Economic Times|Economic Times]], now at [[the Wire]]
* Casual conversations with Radia of Editors of The Times of India, The Economic Times and The Hindu Businessline also figured in the tapes published by Outlook magazine.

=== Others ===

* [[Suhel Seth]] (brand manager, socialite)<ref>{{cite web|author=Open Author |url=http://openthemagazine.com/article/nation/i-am-there-you-want-me-to-speak-to-anyone |title=I am there... you want me to speak to anyone |magazine=OPEN Magazine |date=20 November 2010 |access-date=23 September 2016}}

Ratan Tata</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Lola Nayar & others |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/favourite-lobby-horses/265345 |title=Favourite Lobby Horses |work=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook Magazine]] |date=17 May 2010 |access-date=23 September 2016}}</ref>

==Political lobbying==

The transcripts of the tapes, referred to the lobbying activity against the reappointment of [[Dayanidhi Maran]] to the post of Union IT and Communications minister in the UPA tenure in Indian government.

* Conversation with journalist Barkha Dutt at 0948 IST.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.outlookindia.com/view.aspx?vname=Barkha--18-188819-0-10-20090522-094851.wav |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122163943/http://business.outlookindia.com/view.aspx?vname=Barkha--18-188819-0-10-20090522-094851.wav |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 November 2010 |title=www.outlookindia.com | No. 3 Barkha Dutt: May 22, 2009 09:48:51 |publisher=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook India]] |access-date=23 January 2012}}</ref>

* In a later conversation at 1047 IST, Barkha says that it (conveying the message to Congress(ruling government in the year)) was 'not a problem' and that she would talk to Ghulam (Nabi Azad) (Indian politician and Congress member).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.outlookindia.com/view.aspx?vname=Barkha%20Dutt-02-188819-0-01-20090522-104733.wav |title=www.outlookindia.com | No. 7 Barkha Dutt: May 22, 2009 10:47:33 |publisher=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook India]] |access-date=23 January 2012}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020}}</ref>

* Radia later talks to Ranjan Bhattacharya, who also appears to be acting as a conduit to the Congress. She also mentions over the call that Sunil (Bharti) Mittal (Airtel head), has been lobbying.'<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.outlookindia.com/view.aspx?vname=Tarun%20Das-13-188819-0-07-20090522-165535.wav |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122172749/http://business.outlookindia.com/view.aspx?vname=Tarun%20Das-13-188819-0-07-20090522-165535.wav |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 November 2010 |title=www.outlookindia.com | No. 16 Ranjan Bhattacharya: May 22, 2009 16:55:35 |publisher=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook India]] |access-date=23 January 2012}}</ref>

== Media blackout and reactions in social media==

The news gained prominence following sustained pressure on social networking sites Twitter<ref name="dnatwitter">{{cite news|title=#barkhagate: Protests in 140 characters leave no space for gray areas|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_barkhagate-protests-in-140-characters-leave-no-space-for-gray-areas_1471128|newspaper=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|date=24 November 2010}}</ref><ref name="mynews1">{{cite web|title=Twitter world abuzz over Radia-Barkha tapes|url=http://www.mynews.in/News/twitter_world_abuzz_over_radia_barkha_tapes_N111382.html|work=[[rediff.com]]|publisher=Mynews.in|access-date=23 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121235305/http://www.mynews.in/News/twitter_world_abuzz_over_radia_barkha_tapes_N111382.html|archive-date=21 November 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Facebook<ref>{{cite web|title=Barkhagate|url=http://www.facebook.com/pages/Barkhagate/133196416734121|publisher=Facebook|access-date=23 November 2010}}</ref> against an attempted blackout orchestrated by many prominent Indian TV channels and newspapers.<ref name=dnaSampathblog /><ref name="hinduglasshouse">{{cite web|title=Those living in glass houses... |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/11/23/stories/2010112350760800.htm|work=[[The Hindu]] Business Line|access-date=23 November 2010}}</ref><ref name="ciol1netizen">{{cite web|title=2G scam: Netizens bark at Barkha, Vir Sanghvi |url=http://www.ciol.com/News/News/News-Reports/2G-scam-Netizens-bark-at-Barkha-Vir-Sanghvi/143737/0/|work=CIOL|access-date=23 November 2010|date=22 November 2010}}</ref> According to the ''[[Washington Post]]'', "Twitter has played an important role in launching what has become an international conversation on the issue, with the Indian diaspora weighing in".<ref name="wpost1">{{cite news|title=Indian journalists accused of secretly helping politicians, businesses|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/22/AR2010112203831.html|work=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=23 November 2010|first=Emily|last=Wax|date=22 November 2010}}</ref>

Initially, only a handful of the mainstream newspapers in India, like The ''[[Deccan Herald]]'',<ref name="deccanherald">{{cite news|title=Anchored in mire : ''Journalists are only expected to be witnesses.''|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/114750/anchored-mire.html|access-date=23 November 2010|newspaper=[[Deccan Herald]]|date=23 November 2010 }}</ref> [[Indian Express]] had openly written about the tapes. Some newspapers like ''HT Media'', ''Mint'' (the business newspaper also owned by HT media)<ref name="minteditor">{{cite web|title=Editor's note: Why we are quiet on the Open magazine story|url=http://www.livemint.com/2010/11/18205335/Editor8217s-note-Why-we-ar.html?h=B|publisher=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]|access-date=23 November 2010|first=Sukumar|last=Ranganathan|date=19 November 2010}}</ref> and [[NDTV]] said "the authenticity of these transcripts cannot be ascertained".<ref name=ciol1netizen /><ref name=ndtvreply /> [[CNN-IBN]]'s [[Sagarika Ghose]] discussed with a panel of experts, if the corporate lobbying is undermining democracy, on the "Face the Nation" programme on the channel.<ref name="cnnibnftn">{{cite news|title=FTN: Is corporate lobbying undermining democracy?|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/135633/face-the-nation-with-sagarika-ghose.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126070916/http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/135633/face-the-nation-with-sagarika-ghose.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 November 2010|access-date=23 November 2010|newspaper=[[CNN-IBN]]|date=22 November 2010}}</ref> The Radia tapes is seen to have also made a dent in the image of the media in the country.<ref name=dnaSampathblog /><ref name= hinduglasshouse /><ref name="mailtodaydentmedia">{{cite news|title=Outrage as Nira Radia tapes dent image of 4th Estate|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/120570/India/outrage-as-nira-radia-tapes-dent-image-of-4th-estate.html|newspaper=[[India Today]]|date=20 November 2010}}</ref><ref name="wsjq&aindianjourno">{{cite news|title=Q&A: The State of Indian Journalism|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2010/11/23/qa-the-state-of-indian-journalism/|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal | first=Tripti|last=Lahiri|date=23 November 2010}}</ref><ref name="hootblackout">{{cite web|title=Oh what a lovely blackout|url=http://thehoot.org/web/home/story.php?storyid=4959&mod=1&pg=1&sectionId=1&valid=true|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126132438/http://www.thehoot.org/web/home/story.php?storyid=4959&mod=1&pg=1&sectionId=1&valid=true|url-status=dead|archive-date=2010-11-26|publisher=The Hoot}}</ref><ref name="mailtodaypamperjournos">{{cite web|title=Companies love to pamper senior journalists|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/120673/India/companies-love-to-pamper-senior-journalists.html |work=[[India Today]]}}</ref> "The complete blackout of the Niira Radia tapes by the entire broadcast media and most of the major English newspapers paints a truer picture of corruption in the country," wrote G Sampath, the deputy editor of the ''[[Daily News and Analysis]]'' (DNA) newspaper.<ref name="dnaSampathblog">{{cite web|title=When Radia killed the media star|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/blogs/post.php?postid=318|work=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|access-date=23 November 2010|first=G|last=Sampath|date=20 November 2010}}</ref><ref name="huffpost1">{{cite news | url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/betwa-sharma/indian-media-where-art-th_b_786404.html | title=Indian Media Where Art Thou on Media Scandal | work=[[Huffington Post]] | date=20 November 2010 | access-date=23 November 2010 | first=Betwa| last=Sharma}}</ref> After it became an international news, more and more media houses covered the story. [[The Deccan Chronicle]] commented, "The 'Radia tapes' may have torn the veil off the nexus between information hungry journalists, lobbyists and industrialists, and opened everyone’s eyes to what has long been suspected — the ability of a small but powerful group to use their connections to influence policy."<ref>{{cite web|title=Billions for a few, few for the billions|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/360-degree/billions-few-few-billions-047|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123221242/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/360-degree/billions-few-few-billions-047|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 November 2010|work=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|first=Neena|last=Gopal|date=21 November 2010 }}</ref> The [[List of newspapers in the world by circulation|largest circulated]] English newspaper in India and the world, ''[[The Times of India]]'' finally opened up on 25 November 2010, commenting "The people are showing who the boss is. The weapon in their hands is the internet, has seen frantic activism against "power brokering" by journalists in collusion with corporate groups and top government politicians..."<ref name="toinetizen">{{cite news|title=2G scam sideshow: Netizens lambast high-profile journalists|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-11-25/india/28254163_1_niira-radia-conversations-with-corporate-lobbyist-tapes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029213121/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-11-25/india/28254163_1_niira-radia-conversations-with-corporate-lobbyist-tapes|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 October 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=25 November 2010}}</ref>

==Protests and developments==

M.K.Venu had filed a criminal defamation case against Outlook magazine for mentioning him on its cover. Outlook gave an unconditional apology in the court for mistakenly naming M.K.Venu and acknowledged his consistent writings against Telecom Minister A.Raja. News of the apology was published in Outlook, Indian Express and The Hindu.<ref name=Tehelkafallout /><ref>http://bhadas4media.com/article-comment/7449-2010-11-20-02-28-02.html Article by [[Amitabh Thakur]]{{Dead link|date=May 2020}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101123203212/http://www.newspostindia.com/2010-11-20-until-barkha-dutt-vir-sanghvi-resign-boycott-ndtv-hindustan-times Until Barkha Dutt, Vir Sanghvi resign, boycott NDTV & Hindustan Times?]</ref> ''Open Magazine'' maintained that the conversations were carried as they appeared in the recordings.<ref name="openresponse">{{cite web|title=Open's response to NDTV |url=http://openthemagazine.com/article/nation/open-s-response-to-ndtv|work=[[OPEN Magazine, India|OPEN Magazine]]|access-date=23 November 2010|date=20 November 2010}}</ref> Dutt defended her reputation through her Twitter account. "Struck by the bizarre irony of being accused of favouring a man i have never met (raja) and have always attacked in print and on TV. Gnite!," she said via one of her tweets on Twitter.<ref name=wpost1 />

[[NDTV|New Delhi Television Limited]] posted a strong rebuttal on its website terming the insinuation that Barkha lobbied for A Raja as "unsubstantiated, baseless and defamatory" and threatened action against ''Open Magazine''.<ref name="oneindia">{{cite web|title=Does media follow unethical, biased journalism?|url=http://news.oneindia.in/2010/11/21/does-media-follow-unethical-biased-journalism.html|work=[[Oneindia.in]]|access-date=23 November 2010|date=21 November 2010}}</ref><ref name="ndtvreply">{{cite web|title=NDTV on defamatory remarks against Barkha Dutt|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/ndtv-on-defamatory-remarks-against-barkha-dutt-67210|publisher=[[NDTV]]|access-date=23 November 2010|date=18 November 2010}}</ref><ref name="ArabNews">{{cite web|title=og eating dog?|url=http://arabnews.com/economy/article197027.ece|publisher=[[ArabNews]]|access-date=23 November 2010|date=20 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124070841/http://arabnews.com/economy/article197027.ece|archive-date=24 November 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

''[[Hindustan Times]]'' cited Sanghvi's clarifications on his website, and stated that the authenticity of these transcripts cannot be ascertained.<ref name="hindustantimesclarification">{{cite news|title=A CLARIFICATION|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/A-CLARIFICATION/Article1-628408.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121232149/http://www.hindustantimes.com/A-CLARIFICATION/Article1-628408.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 November 2010|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=19 November 2010}}</ref> [[Vinod Mehta]] wrote opposition leader [[Arun Jaitley]] said [[Barkha Dutt]] pleaded to him not to mention about the conversation in the parliament while attacking the government on the 2G case.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mehta|first=Vinod|title=Lucknow Boy: A Memoir|year=2011|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0670085293|pages=249|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ee_ptONoNO8C}}</ref>

On 26 November 2010, Barkha Dutt released a detailed statement, addressing questions raised by the tapes, which she claims were edited.<ref name="duttstatement">{{cite web|title=Barkha Dutt on the Allegations Against Her|url=http://www.ndtv.com/page/?type=barkha-statement|date=26 November 2010}}</ref> On 27 November 2010, Vir Sanghvi released a detailed statement, clarifying his role.<ref name="sanghvistatement">{{cite web|title=Setting the record straight|url=http://virsanghvi.com/CounterPoint-ArticleDetail.aspx?ID=582|date=27 November 2010|access-date=27 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130000300/http://virsanghvi.com/CounterPoint-ArticleDetail.aspx?ID=582|archive-date=30 November 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Writing about the controversy in the [[Hindustan Times]], [[Rajdeep Sardesai]] said that "The robust Indian tradition of adversarial journalism has been mortgaged at the altar of cozy networks."<ref name="polgreen">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/04/world/asia/04india.html|title=A Journalist in India Ends Up in the Headlines|last=Polgreen|first=Lydia|date=3 December 2010|access-date=12 July 2013|work=The New York Times}}</ref> [[Tavleen Singh]] said it was "very, very disappointing", and added that "corruption when it involves ethics" was worse than "taking money".<ref name="cnn02122010">{{cite news | url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/BUSINESS/12/02/india.leaked.tapes/ | title=Leaked tapes put India, media in crisis | publisher=[[CNN]] | first=Sumnima | last=Udas | date=2 December 2010 | access-date=5 December 2010}}</ref> Sumnima Udas of the CNN wrote that the tapes revealed that Dutt served as a power brokers for a deal considered to be one of India's biggest ever scams.<ref name="cnn02122010"/>

Niira Radia has served a legal notice on ''[[The Pioneer (Indian newspaper)|The Pioneer]]'', on the report titled "Tapped and Trapped" published by the newspaper. The notice asserted that ''The Pioneer''{{'}}s report regarding corruption and manipulation in the allotment of 2G spectrum to telecom operators, in so far as it referred to Radia's connections with Telecom Minister A Raja, are "absolutely false, baseless and malicious and constitute gross defamation".<ref>{{cite web|title=Radia serves legal notice on Pioneer|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/252932/Radia-serves-legal-notice-on-Pioneer.html|publisher=[[The Pioneer (Indian newspaper)|The Pioneer]]|date=23 November 2010}}</ref>

The original tapes are now annexures in a [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] petition seeking Raja's prosecution. The opposition parties in India have demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the 2G spectrum case, which could also to be extended to include a probe into the Radia tapes to ascertain the media's role in the controversy.<ref name="mailtodayjpctape">{{cite web|title=JPC on Radia tapes?|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/120849/India/jpc-on-radia-tapes.html|work=[[India Today]]|access-date=23 November 2010|date= 23 November 2010}}</ref> The Government is also accused of selectively releasing merely 10 hours of the 2000 hours recorded of the Radia tapes.<ref name="dbaOutsmartedCongress">{{cite news|title=Outsmarted Congress redraws strategy in Parliament|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_outsmarted-congress-redraws-strategy-in-parliament_1471196|newspaper=Daily News & Analysis ( DNA)|date=24 November 2010|first=Harish|last=Gupta}}</ref>

The CBI in its affidavit in the Supreme Court in the 2G spectrum allocation case, on 22 November 2010, had stated that Radia will be approached for investigation at an appropriate time.<ref name=zeeniraEDscanner /> and that the probe would be completed latest by March 2011.<ref name="htradiacbiprobe">{{cite news|title=Radia role to be probed, report latest by March: CBI|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/newdelhi/Radia-role-to-be-probed-report-latest-by-March-CBI/630214/H1-Article1-629753.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205013537/http://www.hindustantimes.com/newdelhi/Radia-role-to-be-probed-report-latest-by-March-CBI/630214/H1-Article1-629753.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 December 2010|newspaper=[[The Hindustan Times]]|date=23 November 2010}}</ref> On 24 November 2010, Niira Radia was questioned by the [[Directorate General of Economic Enforcement|Enforcement Directorate]] (ED) officials<ref name="ETNiraquestioned">{{cite news|title=2G spectrum scam: Lobbyist Nira Radia being questioned |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/2G-spectrum-scam-Lobbyist-Nira-Radia-being-questioned/articleshow/6980607.cms |newspaper=[[The Economic Times]] |date=24 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126091631/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/2G-spectrum-scam-Lobbyist-Nira-Radia-being-questioned/articleshow/6980607.cms |archive-date=26 November 2010 }}</ref><ref name="telegraphEDradiaquized">{{cite news|title=Radia takes 7-hour ED test — Lobbyist leaves smiling after telecom quiz |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101125/jsp/frontpage/story_13219350.jsp|newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]]|date=24 November 2010|author=IMRAN AHMED SIDDIQUI|location=Calcutta, India}}</ref> and recorded her statements in relation to the 2G case probe.<ref name="toiniiraED">{{cite news|title=ED questions Niira Radia on 2G scam|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-11-25/india/28260802_1_allocation-of-2g-spectrum-vaishnavi-corporate-communications-niira-radia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114151919/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-11-25/india/28260802_1_allocation-of-2g-spectrum-vaishnavi-corporate-communications-niira-radia|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 January 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=25 November 2010}}</ref>

On 1 August 2013 Supreme court asked whether the Income Tax department had informed the authorities which had directed the tapping of Radia's telephone about the sensitive and serious nature of the conversations.<ref>{{cite news | title = Why no action based on Radia tapes? SC asks IT dept | newspaper = The Hindu | date = 1 August 2013 | url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/why-no-action-based-on-radia-tapes-sc-asks-it-dept/article4977244.ece | access-date = 1 August 2013 }}</ref>

==Role of opposing political parties, business houses and lobbyists==
Subsequently, it was revealed that while true to their word, the Niira Radia tapes themselves had been leaked to the Indian media by a lobbyist belonging to a powerful business family, connected to other politicians and private companies. In 2016, in an interview with Hindustan times, [[Josy Joseph]], a highly respected Indian investigative journalist who had also received the tapes revealed that the Niira Radia tapes had been leaked to the Indian media, not by the government, but by a source ensconced in a rival lobbying organization, to settle their own internal rivalries.<ref name="Josy">{{cite news |title=Interview with Josy Joseph |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/watch-and-listen-josy-joseph-on-the-state-of-the-nation/story-fUrZznA9Sfm0TrNVifFiGO.html |access-date=25 October 2018 |work=Hindustan Times|date=5 August 2016}}</ref> He said that the tapes also contained statements by [[Ratan Tata]] stating that the Tata group did not pay people under the table, but these segments were not run by media houses. Joseph wrote about these in his book ''[[A Feast of Vultures]]''.<ref name="vultures">{{cite book |last1=Joseph |first1=Josy |title= A Feast of Vultures: The Hidden Business of Democracy in India|date=15 July 2016 |publisher=Harper Collins |isbn= 978-9350297513 |url= https://www.afeastofvultures.com |access-date= 25 October 2018}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Essar leaks]]
* [[Influence peddling]]
* [[Bribery]]
* [[Lobbying]]

==External links==
* [http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268214 Transcripts : The Radia Tapes] contains all the leaked audio transcripts between corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and other high-profile people
* [http://pad.ma/grid/title/list==zi:The_Radia_Tap%28e%29s The Radia Tapes] contains 181 audio recordings with transcripts.

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:2010 in India]]
[[Category:Political scandals in India]]
[[Category:2010 scandals]]
[[Category:Manmohan Singh administration]]
[[Category:Mass media-related controversies in India]]
[[Category:2G spectrum case]]
[[Category:Corporate crime]]
[[Category:Self-censorship]]

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Radia tapes controversy