Two-G (2G) Spectrum Scam Tapes and follow-up

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 11 Dec 2010 01:53

Radia tapping started with allegation of 'foreign intelligence agent"

I-T Dept bugged ‘foreign agent' RadiaDecember 11, 2010 2:02:55 AM

Abraham Thomas | New Delhi

If corporate lobbyist Nira Radia was appearing to be a larger-than-life figure claiming influence to swing policies and Cabinet formation besides, of course, enabling her corporate clients pocket high-cost spectrum licences at low-priced prices, the picture only got bigger on Friday. Revealing the genesis of the Radia phone taps, the Centre claimed that it started on a suspicion that she was an “agent” for foreign intelligence agencies indulging in “anti-national activities”.

The fresh charge against Radia, who was till now only known as a corporate lobbyist, has come in an affidavit in the Supreme Court filed by the Income Tax Department, the agency responsible for recording Radia’s conversations from August 2008 to July 2009. The court, hearing a petition by Ratan N Tata, had asked the Government about the reason behind the leakage of tapes and steps taken to ensure that “private” conversations of Tata with Radia were protected.

Blowing the lid off the issue, the affidavit stated, “A complaint was received by the Finance Ministry on November 16, 2007, alleging that Radia had within a short span of nine years built up a business empire worth Rs 300 crore, that she was an agent of foreign intelligence agencies and that she was indulging in anti-national activities.”

Exactly two years later, the Director General of Income Tax (Investigation) wrote a letter to the Director, Intelligence Bureau, stating, “An analysis of intercepts suggested that some of the conversations were quite sensitive.” By this time, the Income Tax Department had made three rounds of phone interceptions on a set of 15 telephone lines linked to Radia.

It was approximately the same time when the CBI began investigations into the 2G spectrum scam. On November 16, 2009, the DIG of CBI’s anti-corruption bureau wrote to the DG Income Tax (Investigation) and sought information about Radia as it was aware of the surveillance on her telephones. The letter stated, “It has been reliably learnt that certain middlemen, including one Nira Radia of M/s Noesis Consultancy, were actively involved in the criminal conspiracy (in award of UAS licences).”

The first set of conversations was tapped on August 20, 2008, extended again almost two months later (on October 15) for another 60 days. “The total period for which surveillance continued in 2008 was 120 days,” the affidavit revealed.

The process was revived on May 8, 2009, when a fresh proposal to put six telephone lines under surveillance was moved to the Union Home Secretary.

For 60 days, the lines were tapped, which yielded the “juicy” information now in print about Radia’s truck with the DMK MPs, journalists and industrialists discussing Cabinet formation. After the expiry of this period, Radia’s phone was not tapped further, the affidavit submitted.

Coming to the leaked tapes, which remained the focus of Tata’s petition, the affidavit indicated in plain terms that it had no role in the alleged leak, though an inquiry into the matter was pending with the Government. It said that two sets of taped recordings were handed over to the CBI for investigation in December 2009 while a complete set of 5,800 call intercepts recorded between August 20, 2009, and July 9, 2009, was handed to the investigating agency in May this year.

Speaking for the Government, the affidavit answered the apex court bluntly that whatever has come in the public domain was difficult to retrieve and no records available with the I-T Department could be destroyed since the probe was incomplete. As regards maintaining security of tapes against possible leak, the I-T Department claimed that it had sufficient safeguards in place and no material so far indicated that due to any mistake on its part, the tapes reached the public.

Interesting that the allegation of "foreign agent" was made to Fin Ministry in 2007 yet IB was informed two years later by Finance Ministry! And why was the proposal to monitor her phones made in May 2009 around election time?

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 11 Dec 2010 01:55

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268618

47-188819-0-26-20090522-161405
"Please tell the congress for me". Says Karunanidhi is under too much of pressure with "one daughter threatening to commit suicide". Also asking this person to talk to Sunil Mittal and seek his support.

25-188819-0-17-20090522-091706
"Congress ne to statement Thank God issue kar diya. Barkha ne karwaa liyaa us se. Ki it's not about individuals. "' The guy says "Haan woh to maine dekh liya. aa gya na Manish Tewari ka". " I spoke to minister 2 o' clock in the night last night. because he said, Congress had to call the chief minister directly in the morning and tell them about Baalu."

11-188819-0-11-20090620-115901
Conversation with Manoj Warrier, refers to another person saying that Raja must have explained to them about an income tax matter

11-188819-0-10-20090622-120534
Conversation with Sunil Arora about Arup Das, Rajiv Singh, Air India, Upender

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268619

Outlook magazine has unearthed 800 new tapped conversations involving the lobbyist Niira Radia in the 2G spectrum scam.

The conversations, all part of an officially sanctioned tap, are on top of the 140 conversations placed in the public domain by Outlook three weeks ago.

The intercepts offer fresh political insight into the working of the Kenyan-born British lobbyist who counts the Tatas and Ambanis among her clients.

While Outlook reporters are still decoding the tapes, it is clear that they shine a grisly mirror on the interplay between government and big business, with the media at the end of the frame, at the time Manmohan Singh was forming his cabinet in May 2009—and in the 2G scam itself.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 11 Dec 2010 03:48

http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/ ... oney-trail

Don't know if this was posted earlier...

The clout of the people named in the document was clear from the beginning. One of the journalists who first obtained a copy of this material called up the CBI soon after, in February, to confirm the material he had in hand (and yes, there is reason to believe the source of the leak was a business house opposed to the interests Niira Radia represents). He was told to hold the publication of the material till the end of the month because the CBI planned to arrest Radia and prior publication could lead to her fleeing the country. When he called back at the end of February, he was told to wait till 13 March, when a building for the Tamil Nadu Legislative Council was to be inaugurated in Chennai with senior Congress leaders in attendance.

When in mid-March, with no arrest in sight, the journalist called back one of the officials, he was told to go ahead and do what he could, the officials were helpless. All three officials named in the leaked correspondence—Vineet Agarwal, DIG; Milap Jain, DG IT; and Ashish Abrol, joint director IT—had been transferred from their jobs. It was argued by the CBI that Agarwal’s term had expired, but an extension in such cases would not have been abnormal. This, combined with the decision to move the other two officials, reveals the clout of those threatened by the revelations. The story was broken by April end in The Pioneer by J Gopikrishnan, whose 2G scam coverage finally brought about Raja’s removal.

Till early November 2009, the CBI officers involved in examining the case had never even heard of Niira Radia, whose clout depended on low visibility and easy access to power. When a few journalists first told them about Radia, the officers had to turn to Google for help.

Armed with this new knowledge, on 20 November 2009, a letter was sent by Vineet Agarwal, then the CBI’s DIG in charge of the case, to Milap Jain of the IRS, DG IT (Investigation), asking for access to the phone taps: ‘The CBI is presently investigating a criminal case… The allegation being investigated is relating to criminal conspiracy between public servants and private persons in grant of UAS [Unified Access Service, which are basically telecom licences allowing the transmission of voice and non-voice messages in a particular region] licences in the year 2007-2008. It has been reliably learnt that certain middlemen including one Ms Nira [sic; she changed her name to Niira, presumably on numerological advice, which must now be considered very suspect] Radia of M/s Noesis Consultancy were actively involved in the above mentioned criminal conspiracy…’

Today, listening to the protestations of innocence by the various journalists implicated in the conversations with Radia, these letters, which were published in the media in May, gain added weight. Even if the journalists did not know what they were doing in 2009, by May 2010 the extent of Radia’s operations was clear. She was no mere lobbyist; the charge against her was of criminal conspiracy. They had six months till November 2010 to come clear on their involvement with Radia; none did.

‘Nira Radia had arranged for an ‘advance’ for Unitech group from Tata Realty of which outstanding of Rs 650 cr is spoken of… conversation suggests that this advance has to be projected as one for a vague purpose though some 500 acres of land is talked about.’
This, as Pillai suggests and the 14-page document bears out, is only the beginning of what is likely to become public over the near future. And it is then that those who find something totalitarian about the tapping of Radia’s phone will come to realise that the real tragedy in this case lies not in the phone taps, but in what they reveal.

csharma · Post by **csharma** » 11 Dec 2010 03:58

What is Barkha Dutt going to say now? "Working the sources". This lady is so shameless, she continues to appear on TV as if nothing has happened. Kudos to Outlook for publishing the tapes.

I think it is about time the Sarkari journalists are exposed.

AbhishekD · Post by **AbhishekD** » 11 Dec 2010 04:10

Ya BD was gathering another thing. Money

ShivaS · Post by **ShivaS** » 11 Dec 2010 08:05

Its all so logical that Ms Randia is a foreign agent! double o tender authorized to penetrate at any rate!
Information, contacts is the life blood for any spying agency, heck for that matter even for Marketing...note that Ms Randia was using Viaishnavi Marketing ....

In this cas Ms. Randia's activities are clasic case of gathering Market Intelligence, I hope our man Seldon saar makes a good case study out of this material.

I was trying to forecast what was happening in the Indain Armada forces and I was called names, (then came the cantonment scams tumbling and ofcourse Lt. Gen Nanda case only nostalgia for Nanavati case ...)
I was trying to tell That Israel is amenable to funds, I was conformed BS degree and dire threats of being banned, unless you trade you will not get Humint. Why not make money has been Israeli policy while at it..

I repeatedly aske about he citizendhip, PIO, OCI status etc... because the foreign intelliegence never directly go into market or public space and do intelligence or espionage activities... ( hence the ceation of Local IM terror cells by ISI)

It doesnt require any superiro intelligence to understand that Ms. Randia will share her gatherings to any one who bids the right price, actually like Plots in Hyderbad she may as well sell the same information to many different agencies including our own RAW...

Even a moron can see that she had foreign contacts leave alone foreign passport..

Are prabhu ko hi nanga kar diya b saying few flattering words....

Detehain Bhagwan ko dokha
Prabhu ko kya chodenge...

kasme wade desh bhakthi wafa
baton hai baton ka kya

I am ready for India in which everybody is corrupt to 99% and 1% honest at all times ,

Prabhu bina hamra koyee naahi
Oh Rakwale...Tata bina koyee naahi

ShivaS · Post by **ShivaS** » 11 Dec 2010 08:16

oh here is the reference lest I be conformed yet another BS degree.

http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewto ... &start=240
Cross posting from Varanasi thread
posted by Sum
IM hired outsiders to carry out its dirty work
IM hired Third party
ours Ms. Randia is third among many parties that are attendent to her affairs...

Rahul Mehta · Post by **Rahul Mehta** » 11 Dec 2010 09:13

Inder Sharma wrote:English News channels flashing news that Radia may have links with foreign Intel Agencies.

BR is always ahead of the curve . Here are posts of 24-nov-010

Jarita wrote: She turns up from Britain and then represents key business houses with the strongest relationships to the Anglo cabal. The lady has her fingers in many pots including the recent attempted ouster of Yeddy at the behest of the mining mafia and it's beneficiaries. Her father also appeared to have connections with the anglo cabal. She may very well be an agent (not a spy but someone out there to further specific interests).

Rahul Mehta wrote: AWMTA . I also think that she is Rockefeller agent. She may be paid by Mukesh, as per orders issued by Rockefeller to Mukesh, but her inner loyalties and connections are with Rockefeller . These lobbyists are the people who report what everyone does to Rockefeller, and they carry the words of Rockefeller to every media-house, business-house and politicians. Some seniors like MA, Sonia, MMS directly deal with Rockefeller, while junior ones like Raja deal via Nira. The money that went to Sonia's sisteters account went to Rockefeller and he must have given a part to Churches for their conversion work and get Church's loyalties towards Rockefeller's operations worldwide.

Tamang · Post by **Tamang** » 11 Dec 2010 10:14

ramana wrote:Radia tapping started with allegation of 'foreign intelligence agent"

.....

Blowing the lid off the issue, the affidavit stated, “A complaint was received by the Finance Ministry on November 16, 2007, alleging that Radia had within a short span of nine years built up a business empire worth Rs 300 crore, that she was an agent of foreign intelligence agencies and that she was indulging in anti-national activities.”

So who was the complainant? Must be some govt agency.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 11 Dec 2010 11:38

She may well be a spy. But, Niira Radia has been followed for almost three years now and the agencies could not determine whether she was working for a foreign agency or not ? Wasn't phone tapping ordered by Enforcement Directorate ? I am unable to connect the dots here.

arjunm · Post by **arjunm** » 11 Dec 2010 11:41

All on a sudden Emirates Bank started to swollen with Indian Black Money-

Emirates smell India link in surge in bank deposits

MUMBAI: Someone following the money in a season of scams can rummage through dry data on the website of the United Arab Emirates' central bank. In the past few months, there has been an unusual surge in deposits in many high-street banks in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and financial centres in the UAE. Where the money came from is a subject of speculation in the Gulf with the regulator yet to spell out the sources.

But amid the buzz that much of it could be government money taken from reserves to help state-owned firms pay off debts next year, senior bankers and finance professionals have spotted an India angle to the fund flow.

The rush of deposits began weeks after India and Switzerland signed a revised treaty on August 30 to exchange information on tax-evaders. The pact was perceived as the first step to obtain details on money stashed away in Swiss banks. India struck a similar agreement with Bermuda, a tax haven.

Total bank deposits jumped more than 40 billion dirhams ($11 billion) in October, as per data compiled by the Central Bank of UAE , against an average monthly growth of 10 billion dirhams ($2.7 billion) since January. "It may be more than a coincidence. It's a fact that money is moving out of Swiss banks and Dubai is an obvious choice for many Indians," said a senior chartered accountant who has structured such transactions.

Before October, the highest jump in monthly deposits was 14.6 billion dirhams ($3.9 billion) in June - less than two months after Indian tax authorities notified they had initiated information exchange agreements with nine jurisdictions, including British Virgin Islands, Isle of Man and Jersey, which has been a favourite tax haven. "Some of these pacts are yet to be notified, and data will be shared by a tax haven only after precise information is sought. But, such announcements push people to move their money," said a finance professional who specialises in foreign exchange norms.

Swiss pact from April 2011

The pact with Switzerland will come into force from April 1, 2011.

"But nobody wants to wait till the last day. Structuring the deal and remitting the money can take two to three months," he said.

Dubai is convenient because there is no tax and banks ask few questions if money deposited has no drug or terror trail. The whole transaction can be broken into a few simple steps. First, a firm is floated in the Dubai Free Trade Zone and then staffed with local directors, many of whom are Indians working in the Gulf. Secondly, a bank account is opened in the firm's name. The money is then wired from Switzerland or a tax haven to either a Dubai bank, or to the UAE arm of an MNC bank. Finally, it is transferred to a local Emirate bank. The cash received by the newly-formed company in Dubai is shown as trading income or consultancy fee from international clients.

But persons moving unaccounted money have to submit a list of names as to who will own the shares of the firm in the event of their deaths. Under the principles of Shari'ah (or Islamic law), one must name the inheritors.

"It can be easier if the person is a private banking client in a Dubai financial centre. If a wealth manager is simultaneously given to run a portfolio worth a few million dollars, the relationship becomes stronger," said a banker in Abu Dhabi. He said non-residents also ask foreign institutions and funds outside the Emirates to invest the money in the UAE financial and property markets. "There is a slow revival in interest among hedge funds and arbitrage funds," said the person.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... urge-in-ba

milindc · Post by **milindc** » 11 Dec 2010 12:32

She is indeed a very well connected agent. Managed to get UK guarantee for Ratan Tata.
Moron Tata doesn't get how a lobbyist can arrange that.
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268419

Niira Radia: Well, then, that's really awful. I’ll tell Ratan, I’ll have a word with him. By the way I managed to get them a great thing done. All the problems that they are having in UK with the government not giving them the guarantee

Tarun Das: Yeah

Niira Radia: This’s just between you and me, I interviewed somebody I knew from the banking community in the UK

Tarun Das: umm

Niira Radia: He was very very up with the Credit Suisse group. And we have managed to get that guarantee done without the government having to give us a counter guarantee.

Tarun Das: Rich

Niira Radia: He is thrilled with me today. He called me up from Dubai, Ratan is in Dubai today.

Tarun Das: Right.

shravan · Post by **shravan** » 11 Dec 2010 18:46

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?269050

Radia calls up Vir Sanghvi on June 20, 2009, the day before his Counterpoint column appears in HT. “Wrote it”, says Sanghvi, “I’ve dressed it up as a piece about how public will not stand for resources being cornered, how we’re creating a new list of oligarchs…” Niira Radia replies: “Very nice, lovely, thank you, Vir.” Sanghvi goes on to say, “It’s dressed up as a plea to Manmohan Singh, so it won’t look like an inter-Ambani battle except to people in the know.”

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 11 Dec 2010 18:48

Emirates smell India link in surge in bank deposits

MUMBAI: Someone following the money in a season of scams can rummage through dry data on the website of the United Arab Emirates' central bank. In the past few months, there has been an unusual surge in deposits in many high-street banks in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and financial centres in the UAE. Where the money came from is a subject of speculation in the Gulf with the regulator yet to spell out the sources.

But amid the buzz that much of it could be government money taken from reserves to help state-owned firms pay off debts next year, senior bankers and finance professionals have spotted an India angle to the fund flow.

The rush of deposits began weeks after India and Switzerland signed a revised treaty on August 30 to exchange information on tax-evaders. The pact was perceived as the first step to obtain details on money stashed away in Swiss banks. India struck a similar agreement with Bermuda, a tax haven.

Total bank deposits jumped more than 40 billion dirhams ($11 billion) in October, as per data compiled by the Central Bank of UAE , against an average monthly growth of 10 billion dirhams ($2.7 billion) since January. "It may be more than a coincidence. It's a fact that money is moving out of Swiss banks and Dubai is an obvious choice for many Indians," said a senior chartered accountant who has structured such transactions.

Before October, the highest jump in monthly deposits was 14.6 billion dirhams ($3.9 billion) in June - less than two months after Indian tax authorities notified they had initiated information exchange agreements with nine jurisdictions, including British Virgin Islands, Isle of Man and Jersey, which has been a favourite tax haven. "Some of these pacts are yet to be notified, and data will be shared by a tax haven only after precise information is sought. But, such announcements push people to move their money," said a finance professional who specialises in foreign exchange norms.

Swiss pact from April 2011

The pact with Switzerland will come into force from April 1, 2011.

"But nobody wants to wait till the last day. Structuring the deal and remitting the money can take two to three months," he said.

Dubai is convenient because there is no tax and banks ask few questions if money deposited has no drug or terror trail. The whole transaction can be broken into a few simple steps. First, a firm is floated in the Dubai Free Trade Zone and then staffed with local directors, many of whom are Indians working in the Gulf. Secondly, a bank account is opened in the firm's name. The money is then wired from Switzerland or a tax haven to either a Dubai bank, or to the UAE arm of an MNC bank. Finally, it is transferred to a local Emirate bank. The cash received by the newly-formed company in Dubai is shown as trading income or consultancy fee from international clients.

But persons moving unaccounted money have to submit a list of names as to who will own the shares of the firm in the event of their deaths. Under the principles of Shari'ah (or Islamic law), one must name the inheritors.

"It can be easier if the person is a private banking client in a Dubai financial centre. If a wealth manager is simultaneously given to run a portfolio worth a few million dollars, the relationship becomes stronger," said a banker in Abu Dhabi. He said non-residents also ask foreign institutions and funds outside the Emirates to invest the money in the UAE financial and property markets. "There is a slow revival in interest among hedge funds and arbitrage funds," said the person.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 11 Dec 2010 20:30

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268618

Fourteen new tapes out so far...

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 11 Dec 2010 21:22

seems to collect all info in one place

http://blogs.siddharthbalaravi.com/poli ... -industry/

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 11 Dec 2010 21:44

The rot runs deep... and these tapes are just the tip of the tip of the iceberg!! What lies beneath...

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268749

To download the file, right click on: 11-188819-0-03-20090601-140555.mp3 and choose Save

***

Radia talks to employee Yatish. She tells him to prepare the questions for Vir (Sanghvi) of HT since he has agreed to ask whatever questions they suggest. She says that Vir is starting a new series of interviews and he wants to start with Mukesh Ambani or Ratan Tata. She asks Yatish to mobilise all resources to draw up the questions.

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?269163

To download the file, right click on: 11-188819-0-19-20090529-172935.mp3 and choose Save

***

Radia is on the line to Tarun Das, former head of CII. Das says that he had suggested Kamal Nath's name for surface transport ministry. He says Kamal Nath is a doer and can “make his 15 per cent” while doing some national service. Das adds that he had suggested Kamal Nath's name for the portfolio “big time”. Das also says that industry is a new area for Anand Sharma and that they would have to educate and brief him. He also speaks about talking to Montek Singh Ahluwalia about exiting the CII and that he would speak to the PM about it because Montek wants him to. Radia tells Tarun Das that Ratan Tata was very worried about Maran taking over telecom, but is very happy now that Raja has come in.

ShivaS · Post by **ShivaS** » 11 Dec 2010 21:49

This which hunt left no orifice untouched, If this telephonic conversations imagine the cock tail conversations, evrybody id is in bed in these scams...

unnadi manku vote
brathuku thervuke lotu

Gandhi puttina desama idi

We do have vote
Nothing worth to live by or to note
in the Land of Gandhi

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 11 Dec 2010 22:14

ShivaS, Please stop your whinings. After once or twice it loses its charm.

Rampy · Post by **Rampy** » 12 Dec 2010 00:33

AbhishekD wrote:Ya BD was gathering another thing. Money

Or may be she was filling the bank to save undithivy. They are going in loss and Mr Roy should have know all about it, why else she would still be with them

shravan · Post by **shravan** » 12 Dec 2010 01:24

http://presstalk.blogspot.com/2007/10/t ... 9199302864

October 28, 2007 12:24 AM

Anonymous said...

Well this had to happen. There is a unwritten rule that Indian Intelligence Agencies never ditch their undercover agents. When the case started in February and Nira Radia's frontwoman Rashmi Naik was spearheading the media attack against Wahi, his former bosses knowing pretty well that even if he is involved he wont leave any trail sent an IB team to Bombay.

Wahi who finished his assignment of tracking Nira Radia for 4 years, as other agents is on a sabbatical. Nira Radia finding this an opportunity to hit at the man who brought her "Flights of Fancy" in Magic Air down to the ground used Indulkar and all her might she could muster spent over 5 crore. She did not realise that undercover agents are trained to keep their lips stitctched. Over 200 hours of questioning spread across 20 days was not enough for Wahi to open his mounth.

His former bosses at Delhi found some top police officials supporting Radia. And overnight transfers happened. As the silent buzz goes, Wahi was tracking activities of the new age Mata HAri, Nira Radia, who has links with Chinese Intelligence Agencies.

Thats the story behind the biggest battle this year that highlighted the Underworld of Indian Media

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 12 Dec 2010 02:11

The government's statement post Pillai's statement that Radia is spy is a beauty. It is a complex web of systems inside systems. we have see how long this government can continue without changing heads.

Mauli · Post by **Mauli** » 12 Dec 2010 06:28

Blow from the south
December 12, 2010 6:42:52 AM

Hari Shankar Vyas

The lobby of Malayali officers is posing hazardous for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress. The lobby is very dominant at 10 Janpath and 7 Race Course Road. These officers backed and manipulated everything for PJ Thomas. First, they facilitated Thomas to get the post of telecom secretary and then they tried every trick in the book so that Thomas was made the CVC. Due to this lobby of Malayali officers, the PM is apprehensive.

To a large extent, the network of these Malayali officers is responsible for the PM’s predicament in the 2G scam and Thomas episode. These officers are powerful and the Government dare not force Thomas to resign despite the Apex Court’s stand. Some Ministers and leaders have been startled with the Thomas episode. They have not been able to understand why Thomas was made CVC in the first place despite a criminal chargesheet against him. Now that this mistake is in the public eye, why hasn’t his resignation been demanded? All of them think that this is the effect of those Malayali officers who are dominant at PMO and 10 Janpath.

Is it not a serious issue that the PM was not briefed about the criminal chargesheet against Thomas? It is said that Thomas’ name was not there in the first list of officers who were in the race for the CVC. At the last moment, the Malayali lobby forwarded his name. When the PM, Chidambaram and Sushma Swaraj met to decide on the CVC, Sushma was amazed when Thomas’ name came up. She did not agree to it. Not only this, Sushma argued that Thomas had been chargesheeted so he shouldn’t be appointed. But the PM and Chidambaram was unyielding. Sources say that the Malayalis close to Sonia Gandhi — AK Antony, Madhavan and Pillai — lobbied for Thomas and then Sonia gave directions for his appointment. Thomas is considered to be very close to Antony. In fact, Antony was behind the empanelment of Thomas as additional secretary and secretary at the Centre. It is also said that Thomas didn’t have the required experience to work at the Centre. Sources add that apart from Antony, officers even coaxed Chidambaram to favour Thomas. The Thomas episode has proved that the Malayali lobby is dominant in the Government and such officers have played a major role in tarnishing the PM’s image.

Dominant malayalis

The Malayali network has been at the centre of PMO and Sonia Gandhi’s office right from the beginning. Earlier, V George was the key person at 10 Janpath and now Madhavan and Pillai are in the lead role. Even the PMO principal secretary, TKA Nair is a Malayali. At both the places, AK Antony, who is also from Kerala, is so dominating that the PM, Sonia and Rahul consider him a great leader. But the truth is quite different. In the leadership of Antony, the Congress has been defeated every time in Kerala. Keep aside his honesty, his records of efficiency and political successes are not impressive. Antony is the Defense Minister, and it is a truth that the budget of his ministry lapses without any expenses. However, Rahul and Sonia like Antony and the PM is fully dependent on TKA Nair. So, in Delhi’s power circle, a strong Malayali network has developed which can persuade the PM and Sonia for anything. Both of them are helpless before Malayali lobby. For years the Government has been planning to shift Nair to any one of the Raj Bhawans in the country, but he is retaining his post at PMO. During his six years’ regime, he has made such a strong network that one can only find a Malayali or a South Indian officer on every crucial post. Cabinet Secretary KM Chandrasekhar himself is part of that network. Nair and Chandrasekhar had monitored the CWG, and to some extent these two are responsible for the mess. But there is no focus on them. The PM is facing embarrassment in the A Raja episode, but nobody is questioning the person who is responsible for the files sent on behalf of PM — TKA Nair. Chandrasekhar and Nair have managed to get several extensions for themselves and done the same for others. Home Secretary Pillai is from Kerala and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao is also a Malayali. NSA SS Menon is also Malayali. PJ Thomas and President’s secretary Christi Fernandez are also part of the strong Malayali network before which even the Congress Government is feeling helpless. If this was not true, wouldn’t Thomas have resigned?

http://www.dailypioneer.com/302969/Blow ... south.html

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 12 Dec 2010 07:07

The writer took all Malayalis in the system and wrote a long article with a lot of untruths mixed with truths.

For example the following is just BS.

Sources say that the Malayalis close to Sonia Gandhi — AK Antony, Madhavan and Pillai — lobbied for Thomas and then Sonia gave directions for his appointment.

Rampy · Post by **Rampy** » 12 Dec 2010 08:49

Muppalla wrote:The writer took all Malayalis in the system and wrote a long article with a lot of untruths mixed with truths.

For example the following is just BS.
Sources say that the Malayalis close to Sonia Gandhi — AK Antony, Madhavan and Pillai — lobbied for Thomas and then Sonia gave directions for his appointment.

Or it could be that some one is trying to keep Anthony baba from PM gaddi in case power change happens. This could purely be to scare people

Don't know but interesting year ahead

ShivaS · Post by **ShivaS** » 12 Dec 2010 09:24

Everything is possible and just like the way we say there must be paki behind bumming anywhere, there is some satistical and anecdotal evidence for the proximity mallus, once upon time it was Kashmiri lobby in PMO..

profiling cuts both ways and besides statisticians are half liars

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 12 Dec 2010 10:02

It may be far fetched. Based on the noise from the grapevine, it looks like India may have change of PM and most probably Pranab Da or a snap poll. A lot could be psy-ops and the deadlock is too severe to govern. A snap poll at this time could be interesting as going for it tells the government's confidence to win.

amdavadi · Post by **amdavadi** » 12 Dec 2010 10:06

congress has confidence in EVM. None else matters.

kmkraoind · Post by **kmkraoind** » 12 Dec 2010 11:06

What is in the 'new' Radia tapes?

Worth reading in full. One thing is amazing, there is no mention of Rajamatha and her family. Probably the Radia had been selected, because there is no harm exposing others, while keeping them clean, if true, clearly a master stroke by coterie to keep tabs on MMS and powerful TN satraps and in preventing becoming other too much powerful (read Burkha and others).

Niira Radia & Tarun Das

A Raja was already tainted by the 2G spectrum allocation. But in May 2009, Radia tells Das that “(Manmohan Singh)…has indicated OK about Raja to (DMK). ” She also assures Das, who is close to Sunil Mittal that “(Raja) will behave himself, trust me, he will behave himself ”. Such was Radia’s clout that tainted Raja’s appointment sailed through.

Radia & (Clue: She says ‘Your minister” to this guy. Who is he?)

Journalists played a key role, says Radia. “Congress ne to statement Thank God issue kar diya. Barkha ne karwaa liyaa us se.” The guy confirms the statement. “Haan woh to maine dekh liya. Aa gayaa naa Manish Tewari kaa”.

Speaking “Minister” O’ clock” lobbying

Radia speaks to her colleague Manoj month after the cabinet formation, it is business as usual. They discuss an “income tax matter” for a client who has told them “We are in a fight. Hum logo ke survival sawaal hai”. Her client was unhappy that Radia & Co had briefed journalists well. After all, she says “aisa nahin…ki Raja ne samjahaya nahin hoga income tax ka implication. ” What was the “implication”?

Radia with Sunil Arora

She dictates to 1980-batch IAS officer Sunil Arora to speak a journalist for a story critical of aviation minister Praful Patel. “Then I should return his call?” asks

Arora. “Of course, of course,” she says. While a key member of India’s administrative steel frame shares an easy camaraderie with Radia, they also discuss a “Rajiv Singh” who is ”in London”.

Radia with Vir Sanghvi

Radia calls up Vir Sanghvi on June 20, 2009, the day before his Counterpoint column appears in Hindustan Times. “Wrote it”, says Sanghvi, “I’ve dressed it up as a piece about how public will not stand for resources being cornered, how we’re creating a new list of oligarchs…” Niira Radia replies: “Very nice, lovely,

thank you, Vir.” Sanghvi goes on to say, “It’s dressed up as a plea to Manmohan Singh, so it won’t look like an inter-Ambani battle except to people in the know.”

Radia with Manoj Warrier

In a conversation with colleague Manoj Warrier on June 1, 2009, Radia discusses a letter being drafted for Reliance Group’s Manoj Modi on a suitable

communication plan that will be finally showed to Mukesh Ambani. “You’re expecting us to take care of certain situations, ” she asks Warrier to write, adding “I don’t want to go into this whole thing about journalism…gatekeepers”. She also sought a decision on blacklisting

PTI -“Are you going to work with Tatas to get them blacklisted…do we have an alternative to PTI.”

Radia with Manoj Warrier

In a chat with Radia on June 12, 2009, Manoj Warrier discusses different headlines in Mumbai and Delhi for the same story that appeared in the Economic Times.

Radia asks him to write to ET editor Rahul Joshi that “you have a serious problem with your desk in Delhi”. They also discuss an “incorrect” edit in ET on

gas not being given a tax exemption. “I’m surprised (M.K.) Venu has done that…I’m very surprised,” says Radia.

Radia with Noel Tata

Niira Radia has a chat with Noel Tata on June 18, 2009, discussing the media plan for Trent Ltd’s board agreeing to renew his managing director contract

for another five years. “These are the times when the fact that I never speak to anybody come to my rescue,” says Noel Tata. Radia replies, “Which is why I

stopped the BusinessWorld story and shifted it to Business Today, because I got the questions I wanted….and not the questions that they wanted.”

Radia and Cecilia

It’s May 24, 2009, and Kanimozhi appears to have opted out of the cabinet race. Niira Radia is talking to Cecilia (probably an employee of Kanimozhi)

that Kani will not settle for anything less than a minister with independent charge. She doesn’t want to work under Dayanidhi Maran. Her view is that he

(Maran) shouldn’t be there in the first place. “Don’t worry,” says Niira, “I think there is still a chance.”

Radia with Yatish

Radia talks to employee Yatish. She tells him to prepare the questions for Vir (Sanghvi) of HT since he has agreed to ask whatever questions they suggest. She says that Vir is starting a new series of interviews and he wants to start with Mukesh Ambani or Ratan Tata. She asks Yatish to mobilise all resources to draw up the questions.

Radia with a DMK leader

The conversation has Niira Radia explaining to a DMK leader why Kanimozhi has made a mistake by refusing the MoS portfolio and how she now must remain friends with Alagiri. “She should have taken the MoS, but she had her own views. Kani must learn to look after herself. This is politics and it is very cut throat, nobody is your friend, nobody is your enemy. I don’t know whether she feels that she’s made a mistake and recognises it. Please, you must talk to her and tell her to be friend with Alagiri. Trust me, it’s very important for them to remains friends.”

Radia with Tarun Das

Radia is on the line to Tarun Das, former head of CII. Das says that he had suggested Kamal Nath’s name for surface transport ministry. He says Kamal Nath is a doer and can “make his 15 per cent” while doing some national service.

Das adds that he had suggested Kamal Nath’s name for the portfolio “big time”. Das also says that industry is a new area for Anand Sharma and that they would have to educate and brief him. He also speaks about talking to Montek Singh Ahluwalia about exiting the CII and that he would speak to the PM about it because Montek wants him to. Radia tells Tarun Das that Ratan Tata was very worried about Maran taking over telecom, but is very happy now that Raja has come in.

Radia with Srini

Radia is speaking to Srini, an associate. She discusses setting up a new team to handle Nita Ambani’s publicity. Radia refers to an article in Society magazine

that has been critical of Nita, saying, “she (Nita) needs to grow up out of that. Radia points out that Simone Tata was also too sensitive, but her PR person

Natasha handled Simone well. She believes that maybe Nita will feel comfortable if a lady handles her PR. She feels there is a nice fun side to Nita too and her philanthropy.

Radia with Atul

In this May 31, 2009 conversation, Radia tries to manipulate the media against Anil Ambani’s RCom. She talks to one of her colleagues Atul, who looks after regional and vernacular media, trying to highlight some development in Jammu where RCom is involved but the police have not named them. While Atul says that he believes they (RCom) have managed the SSP, Radia says: “Unless the media puts pressure on the SSP to name the operator,” RCom will escape this. Also talks about informing the DoT about this, not through the media but “on their own”.

ShivaS · Post by **ShivaS** » 12 Dec 2010 11:59

Rajmata is trained by Rajiv and her advisors are hardened crooks (refer to Bofors Rajiv was called Lotus...)
where as Ratan looks like idiot and novice in these kind of transaction, for that matter even Ambanis (IIRC) have not talked directly to Ms.Randia

No wonder you will never find Rajmata name..... or IT and CBI tapes do not record the shrill voice of Rajamata or Yuvii..

when the moon... hits you like a pie in ..
its amore .... Dean Martin song.

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 12 Dec 2010 14:03

the word Rajiv in sanskrit mean lotus.

Raghavendra · Post by **Raghavendra** » 12 Dec 2010 17:42

shravan wrote:http://presstalk.blogspot.com/2007/10/t ... 9199302864

October 28, 2007 12:24 AM

Anonymous said...

Well this had to happen. There is a unwritten rule that Indian Intelligence Agencies never ditch their undercover agents. When the case started in February and Nira Radia's frontwoman Rashmi Naik was spearheading the media attack against Wahi, his former bosses knowing pretty well that even if he is involved he wont leave any trail sent an IB team to Bombay.

Wahi who finished his assignment of tracking Nira Radia for 4 years, as other agents is on a sabbatical. Nira Radia finding this an opportunity to hit at the man who brought her "Flights of Fancy" in Magic Air down to the ground used Indulkar and all her might she could muster spent over 5 crore. She did not realise that undercover agents are trained to keep their lips stitctched. Over 200 hours of questioning spread across 20 days was not enough for Wahi to open his mounth.

His former bosses at Delhi found some top police officials supporting Radia. And overnight transfers happened. As the silent buzz goes, Wahi was tracking activities of the new age Mata HAri, Nira Radia, who has links with Chinese Intelligence Agencies.

Thats the story behind the biggest battle this year that highlighted the Underworld of Indian Media

Now isnt it time to rethink the arrest of Ravi Inder Singh?

Was is he a corporate mole or the one who leaked tapes and exposed radia and was punished for it by her chamchas in the congress govt and media?

ShivaS · Post by **ShivaS** » 12 Dec 2010 18:39

Narayan rao garu that was Chitra Subramaniam of hindu proved that the bofors benefeciary was indeed Rajiv code name lotus...
who had deposits from Hinduja Brothetrs who were for a while personne nongrata in India...

ashokpachori · Post by **ashokpachori** » 12 Dec 2010 20:37

How innocent........yet........

Rampy · Post by **Rampy** » 12 Dec 2010 20:42

One thought is running in my head. Looking at the 2G timlines, looks like this started when MKN was around, is this some kind of parting gift by him using his insiders, he was one man show with moron as HM and MKN is a oldie IB guy. Or may by I am missing the timeline

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 12 Dec 2010 21:44

A Telugu website (Greatandhra.com) says that Raja's resignation and the Radia-tapes are a cover-up for Yuvaraj's involvement in 2-G scam. They say, that is why RG used to show special interest in Chennai and his frequent visits.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 12 Dec 2010 23:10

Some great comments from readers of Outlook. Sourcy

India had a 'Vir'.
But Radia-tion did him in,
Counter to the point.

You 'dressed it up' for the Radia & Ambanis but alas but now you appear to be undressed!

What did you receive in return, Vir? It better be worth it because you may have to kiss your career Good-Bye now!

Classic, modeled after "Johny, Johny" nursery rhyme.

Viru, Viru,
Yes, Reader,
Writing for Mukesh?
No Reader
Telling lies?
No Reader
Play thy Tapes
O Ha! Ha! Ha!

anmol · Post by **anmol** » 13 Dec 2010 03:21

In following tape Niira Radia is talking with Ranjan Bhattacharya about how she have saved Unitech from liquidation despite their bouncing checks for the money they borrowed from Tatas.

Ranjan says: "Anand Sharma is the owner"

Niira replies : "he told me clearly .. abhi toh Anand ji aa gaye hain,look at how much Sonia Gandhi has in him"

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?269379

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 13 Dec 2010 04:09

If Radia is a PRC intel linked, could the 2G leaks be another form of wikipees? I mean same sources?

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 13 Dec 2010 05:58

Ms Radia is not in desh is she? Where is she while all these tapes are leaking?