Pillai denies role in tape leak

In a statement here, the home secretary said that neither he nor the Ministry of Home Affairs had access or have any access to any of the tapes which deal with the interception of the telephones of Nira Radia.

“My attention has been drawn to reports that have appeared in ‘Open’ and in ‘India Today’ magazines. I wish to clarify that neither I nor the Ministry of Home Affairs had access or have any access to any of the tapes concerning the interception of the telephones of Ms. Nira Radia. I also understand from the affidavits given by the Ministry of Finance that some portion of the tapes had been given to the CBI for investigation”, Pillai said.

The home secretary said his interview with “Wall Street Journal” has been misunderstood and quoted out of context.

“I had only stated that the interception of the telephone calls have been authorised by the Home Ministry on account of allegations concerning tax evasion/hawala, and that no tapes concerning tax evasion/hawala had appeared in the press,” he said.

These were the subject matter of investigation by the Central Board of Direct Taxes and if they are substantiated, would be only disclosed later when the chargesheets are filed by the  agencies concerned, the statement said.

“Since I have neither heard nor seen the tapes, the allegations that I am leaking these tapes, at the behest of the Union Home Minister, is totally unfounded and false,” the statement added.