Delhi High Court refuses to intervene in Essar phone tapping inquiry

Almost a week after reserving orders, the Delhi High Court disposed off a petition seeking a court-monitored inquiry into the alleged tapping of conversations between politicians, government officials and business houses by the Essar Group..Chief Justice G. Rohini and Sangita Dhingra Sehgal J. observed today that interference by the court was not warranted..The public interest litigation started after Essar’s former employee, Albasit Khan tapped phone calls allegedly on company orders as has been stated in a letter written by his advocate Suren Uppal..As reported by Outlook, the letter contains transcripts of about twenty different conversations. One of these conversations that has come into the limelight is that between Mukesh Ambani and Satish Seth, a RIL Director wherein they discuss “managing” the Supreme Court of India through Pramod Mahajan, the then Union Telecom Minister..Another conversation relevant to the legal community is that of Mr. Satish Seth and Mr. Vyas, wherein Mr. Vyas is heard seeking favours for Ravi Shankar Prasad, the then Minister of Industry and Law, who wanted to be the Chairman of the reception committee. The conversation further categorically mentioned that an amount of “two” be paid to the senior most judge hearing an SLP filed by COAI on September 6, 2002 to ensure that the petition be dismissed at the admission stage itself..The High Court, on the suggestion of ASG Sanjay Jain, gave liberty to Uppal to take steps to ensure safe custody of the sensitive material by approaching the Ministry of Home Affairs.