U-turn? Pillai denies any access to Radia tapes

NEW DELHI: Even as the probe behind leaking of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia's tapes -- concerning interception of her telephone conversation -- continues, the Union home secretary G K Pillai on Saturday said neither he nor his ministry had access or have any access to any of the tapes.

"I wish to clarify that neither I nor the ministry of home affairs had access or have any access to any of the tapes concerning the interception of the telephones of Niira Radia. I also understand from the affidavits given by the ministry of finance (CBDT) that some portion of the tapes had been given to the CBI for investigation", he said.

His statement came in response to certain reports appeared in couple of news magazines, suggesting the tapes could have been leaked from his ministry.

Denying allegations of leak, the home secretary said: "These were the subject matter of investigation by the CBDT and if these are substantiated, would be only disclosed later when the charge-sheets are filed by the concerned agencies. Since I have neither heard nor seen the tapes, the allegations that I am leaking these tapes, at the behest of the Union home minister, is totally unfounded and false."

Referring to his earlier interview, Pillai said, "My interview to the Wall Street Journal has been misunderstood and quoted out of context. I had only stated that the interception of the telephone calls have been authorised by the home ministry on account of allegations concerning tax evasion\hawala, and that no tapes concerning tax evasion\hawala had appeared in the press."