New Delhi : The Supreme Court sought Centre’s response within four weeks on pleas by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy seeking Cabinet note concerning Jet-Etihad Airways deal and copy of the transcript of tapped telephonic conversation of former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia in which she had allegedly talked about civil aviation sector, reports PTI.
A bench comprising justices H L Dattu and S A Bobde asked Additional Solicitor General L Nageshwar Rao who accepted the notice on behalf of the Centre to file response on Swamy’s application.
The bench also asked the Centre to respond to Swamy’s plea seeking copy of communication of April 9, 2013 of Ministry of External Affairs to Ambassador of United Arab Emirates on the issue.
Swamy has filed petition seeking to quash the deal on the ground that it was against public interest as there has been squandering of natural resource i.e. the sky and air space. The apex court on December 6, 2013 had made it clear that it would quash the Jet-Etihad Airways deal if there are any irregularities in it.
It had issued notice to Centre and Income Tax Department on his plea seeking direction to the government to place the transcript of tapped telephonic conversation of Radia in which she allegedly had talked about civil aviation sector.
Referring to Radia tapes, Swamy, in his application, had said the documents are important for adjudication of the case and the apex court had already ordered CBI probe in the alleged involvement of middlemen in aviation sector which was revealed in conversation.
[alert type=”e.g. warning, danger, success, info” title=””]KF moves HC
Kingfisher Airlines moved the Delhi High Court against Punjab National Bank’s notice alleging the carrier has wilfully defaulted in payment of outstanding dues of over Rs 770 crore.
It has sought directions to the bank to rescind the notices and also restrain it from taking any action against the airline pursuant to the same. [/alert]
