NEW DELHI: An advocate, who had approached the PMO with a complaint against the corporate major Essar over the alleged illegal tapping of phones of high-profile people and some union ministers has moved the Delhi High Court for a court-monitored SIT probe.
Advocate Suren Uppal has claimed that he has filed the petition on the basis of CDs of the recorded conversations whose genuineness also he wants to be examined. He submitted that he had come to know of the "illegal and unlawful acts of tapping" done allegedly at the behest of the Essar from one of its employees, who has now left the company.
He alleged that from 2001 to 2006 phones of some of the prominent citizens, including ministers, top government officials and corporate houses, of our country were tapped and intercepted for deriving undue advantages.
Essar Group has denied all charges. He said that the recorded conversations are "incriminating" and if found to be genuine, "would exhibit the unscrupulous/evil nexus between politicians, higher government officials and India's top corporate houses". The advocate alleged that he had filed a complaint with the Prime Minister's Office on June 1 and then again on June 9 but till date neither has any action been taken nor has he received any response.
In his plea, Uppal has also sought that Albasit Khan, an ex-Essar employee who had first approached him regarding the issue and later turned hostile, should be produced before the court as he is a "material witness".
According to the advocate, Khan was an employee of the company and part of the team which was tasked with the job of phone tapping, interception and recording of calls.
The PIL sought directions to the government to provide him security till the case was finally disposed of as he apprehended threat to his life by persons with vested interests who, according to him, were also likely to destroy the evidence.