COMMENTARY
INTERVIEW
SPECIALS
CHAT
ARCHIVES

CBI begins query into phone tapping; Tata Tea director Kidwai interrogated

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday initiated the inquiry process into allegations that phones of some industrialists in Bombay had been tapped.

The bureau registered a case on Thursday on the basis of complaints received from the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited, Bombay, regarding the tapping of telephone lines of certain top industrialists, a CBI spokesman said.

The case was registered in the CBI special crime branch in Bombay, the spokesman added.

The home ministry, following the MTNL complaint, had on Wednesday ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the entire episode.

The complaints of telephone tapping came after The Indian Express published the alleged transcript of conversation between industrialists Nusli Wadia and Ratan Tata and Field Marshal Sam Maneckshaw on the telephone which had connections with the Tata Tea case.

Meanwhile, Tata Tea Executive Director Sayeed M Kidwai was being interrogated by the Assam police for the second day on Thursday in connection with the alleged nexus between Tata Tea and the banned National Democratic Front of Bodoland.

Kidwai,who arrived in Guwahati by a special plane following summons by the state police, was taken directly to a police guest house. He was summoned in connection with paying the air fare by the company to four Bodo militants to travel to New Delhi where a meeting was held between them. The interrogation was being conducted by sleuths of the Assam police's Special Operation Unit.

Tata Tea Managing Director R K Krishna Kumar, who was also summoned by the state police along with Kidwai, has sought more time and is expected to arrive here on October 11, the police said.

Kidwai was earlier interrogated by the police on September 11 in connection with funding for treatment of ULFA 'cultural secretary' Pranati Deka.

EARLIER REPORTS:
Tata Tea now linked to funding of Bodo militants
Bombay HC extends anticipatory bail for Krishna Kumar, Kidwai
Beware! Industrialists must not reveal secrets over the telephone
Chief Minister Mahanta blasts Jethmalani for letter
Ram Jethmalani tells Assam CM not to hound Tatas
Assam governor denies speaking to Sam Maneckshaw
The Tempest Rages On: Govt orders probe into phone tapping
Tatas refuse to comment
Who's who in the imbroglio
Assam govt expresses concern
Tata Tea executive Gogoi arrested
Assam govt alleges Tata Tea had tacit deal with ULFA
Mahanta vows tough action against cos backing ULFA
Gujral did not meet Ratan Tata; Dogra remanded to 14 days judicial custody
Assam police arrest Tata Tea GM Dogra for nexus with ULFA
Union home ministry denies interfering in Tata Tea case
Tata Tea denies charges of nexus with ULFA
Tata Tea officials probed on alleged nexus with ULFA

RELATED COLUMN:
The Lost Children Of India