Radia tapes: CBI closes 9 probes due to lack of adequate evidence

In a relief to former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia, the CBI has closed nine of its Preliminary Enquiry (PE) probes into irregularities allegedly indicated in intercepted conversations between her and officials of several business groups and high-profile individuals due to lack of adequate material evidence.

In a relief to former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia, the CBI has closed nine of its Preliminary Enquiry (PE) probes into irregularities allegedly indicated in intercepted conversations between her and officials of several business groups and high-profile individuals due to lack of adequate material evidence. In all, 10 such PEs have been closed by the agency so far.

The 9 PEs belonged to a group of 14 PEs registered by the CBI since last October on the directive of the Supreme Court, to probe possible offences that emerged in conversations between the corporate lobbyist and high profile individuals and corporates.

“The probes could not get sufficient evidence that could have stood any court’s scrutiny against those suspected of irregularities, so we have closed the probe,” said a CBI source.

Radia’s conversations were originally intercepted by the government as part of an investigation into tax evasion. While the 9 PEs were closed recently by the agency, it had in April also closed another PE in April that pertained to allegations against former chief minister of Jharkhand, Madhu Koda that he had asked for a bribe from a private firm for issuing the license for an iron ore mine.

Among the private firms that had figured in the 9-closed PEs were the Reliance Industries Limited and the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, said the source.