NEW DELHI: A new transcript of lobbyist Nira Radia’s conversation with Sunil Arora, former chairman, Air India, throws light on judicial corruption.
Outlook’s latest edition carries a transcript in which Arora says “someone” paid justice Vijender Jain to get a judgment in his favour. “I mean this litigant had paid Rs 9 crore to that high court judge in Delhi,” he tells Radia. “Kaun sa judgement tha? (which case?), asks Radia. He replies: “Koi tha land deal, real estate ka.
Arora claims that a journalist Upendra Rai’s relative Pradip Rai “yeh hi to kaam karta hai (does this work). Arora then says this judge, identifying him as Vijender Jain, later became chief justice. “Jisne judgment diya tha…he became CJ, abhi retire hua tha, Vijender Jain, naam bhi bataa deta hoon,” says Arora. The conversation was recorded on June 20, 2009. Jain did, in fact, go on to become Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court.
In another transcript published by Outlook, Radia speaks with former telecom minister A Raja’s private secretary R K Chandolia about the Justice Regupathi case. Chandolia tells says Raja had nothing to do with it. But Radia says Raja figures in names circulated to the media. She also discusses the case with Ratan Tata on July 7, 2009. “I guess the only concern I have is that I understand that Maran is going hammer and tongs for Raja. And I hope Raja doesn’t trip or slip or…” Tata says. “No he has not because the chief justice has issued a statement that no minister called the high court judge,” Radia informs Tata.