VVIP Phone Tapping Allegations ‘False’ and ‘Extortionist’: Essar

Essar Group denies all allegations of illegal phone tapping; threatens to take action against the whistle-blower.

The Essar Group headquarters in Mumbai. (Photo: Reuters)

The Essar Group has rubbished allegations that it tapped phones of several high-profile businessmen, politicians and bureaucrats between 2001 and 2006, as reported by The Indian Express.

On 1 June, a 29-page complaint was submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Suren Uppal, a Delhi-based Supreme Court lawyer, who claims to represent the whistle-blower in this case – former Essar employee Albasit Khan. Uppal says he has records of several hundred telephonic conversations which reveal how businesses reach out to politicians and bureaucrats to seek favours.

Uppal wrote a ‘caution notice’ to the Essar Group on 2 March 2016 warning them of criminal and civil proceedings for allegedly tapping phones unlawfully.

The Quint has accessed Essar Group’s response to Uppal on 17 March 2016 in which they have outrightly denied all allegations as “false” and “extortionist in nature”.

At the outset, our clients deny each and every allegation, statement and assertion made by your client in the caution notice. The allegations (are) completely false and incorrect. Obviously these false and incorrect allegations have been made with a malafide objective of pressuring our clients and/or causing loss and damage and are extortionist in nature.

Essar Group’s reply to Suren Uppal

Uppal alleged servers of Essar Group subsidiary companies – BPL Communication (now known as Loop Mobile) and Hutchison – were used to tap phones. He added that the whistle-blower was instructed by the top boss of the Essar Group to carry out the operation in “pursuance of government instruction”.

In response to his specific claim, Essar Group has said that the assumption that they directly control either BPL Communication or Hutchison is ‘factually incorrect’.

The allegations that our clients informed your client that Mr. Shishir Agrawal would facilitate the aforementioned operations by providing logistical support is also wrong and completely denied. Our clients have verified with Mr. Shishir Agrawal who has denied that he had any meeting with your client in 2015 and the same is also a concocted story.

Essar Group’s reply to Suren Uppal

Essar has threatened appropriate legal action against Uppal and the whistle-blower.

Uppal’s response to Essar Group’s letter dated 19 March 2016, is as follows:

The averments made therein prima facie reflect your subtle, implicit disguised yet tacit and implied approval and acceptance of all material allegations made as against your good selves.

Suren Uppal, whistle blower’s lawyer, to Essar Group

Uppal said he has not received any communication from the Prime Minister Office on this matter, so far.

Also Read: Essar Group Tapped Phones of Several VVIPs: Complaint to PMO