Did not know if Niira Radia was lobbying for Tatas: 2G case CIO

NEW DELHI: The Chief Investigating Officer (CIO) in the 2G spectrum allocation case today told a Delhi court that he was not aware whether former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia used to do "lobbying" with Department of Telecom and other departments for the Tatas.

CBI's Superintendent of Police Vivek Priyadarshi told the court that he received the recorded telephonic conversations of Radia, who was earlier examined as a prosecution witness in the 2G case, from the Income Tax Department during the probe into the case.

"It was not in my knowledge that Niira Radia used to do lobbying with DoT and other departments in favour of Tatas by making them abuse their official position. The conversation of Niira Radia was obtained by me on a sealed portable hard disc from Income Tax Department," he told Special CBI Judge O P Saini during his cross examination.

Priyadarshi also told the court that during the probe, it did not come to his notice that Aseervatham Achary, Raja's former Additional Private Secretary and a key CBI witness in the case, "was trying to take favours from Tatas through Niira Radia by abusing his official position."

He rejected the suggestion of advocate Vijay Aggarwal, who appeared for accused R K Chandolia, that Achary was used by him to make statement in favour of CBI.