Govt yet to order probe into Essar-phone tapping controversy

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: The government has not ordered any probe into Essar-phone tapping controversy, said government sources, denying reports that the Prime Minister's Office has asked the Home Ministry to probe into the alleged phone tapping by Essar Group between  2001 and 2006.

Though a probe may begin soon as news agency ANI tweeted that papers have been sent to Home Ministry for necessary action.

The Indian Express had reported on Friday that Essar Group, the Indian multinational conglomerate holding company with investments in the sectors of steel, energy, infrastructure and services, tapped telephone conversations of VVIPs, including Cabinet ministers, bureaucrats and corporate honchos.

Revealing the widespread collusion and corruption nexus between corporates and the corridor of powers, The Indian Express report said that tapping is purported to have spanned over five years, between 2001 and 2006. 

The newspaper reported that a Delhi-based Supreme Court lawyer Sunil Uppal complained to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and claimed to represent the Essar employee who allegedly tapped the phone conversations.

As per the report, those whose phone calls were tapped included the current Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, former ministers Prafull Patel and Ram Naik, Ambani brothers, late Cabinet minister Pramod Mahajan, MP Amar Singh, former CEO and MD of ICICI Bank KV Kamath, former Chairman of IDBI Bank PP Vohra, Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi among others.

The Essar Group has refuted the claims of Uppal, while the Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Group has sought full probe into the matter.

Even the Opposition parties have sough thorough investigation into the scandal.