#140 G. Ganapathy Subramaniam, ET: Jul 09, 2009 22:36:31

'Maybe maybe I should speak to you on some other phone number or something' 'Why, you think they are monitoring my number?'

Outlook Web Desk

Updated on: 18 November 2010 12:00 am

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam, then a senior Editor at Economic Times

[inaudible...but some muttering in the background while the phone is ringing...not clear]

Niira Radia: Hi Ganu.

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Sorry, I could not immediately call you. I was driving.

Niira Radia: No problem. How are things

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Yeah, fine. Did you see all the crazy things they were doing today? Ask the media, they will tell you.They were passing on the car numbers to everybody.

Niira Radia: Yeah, yeah, we are not bothered with them.

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Yeah, and telling people ke ye he's going here, he's going there, law minister ke office...finance minister ke office...ye wahaan...PMO..TK Nair... all that

Niira Radia: You guys are carrying it also, like mad naa

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: You know why and you know who's behind it

Niira Radia: No no, I am telling you something. You know Ganu, we have taken a decision, Mukesh (Ambani), was in town, he has told us, ignore ET (Economic Times, ET Now). If they behave like idiots, let them, behave like that, just ignore them. Talk to only those that matter. It does not matter, if they wannaa.. Dev Chatterjee was calling from Bombay and saying all sorts... Barring you (Ganu) and Venu [M.K. Venu] and TK, we are not going to... Soma and Supriya had come, talked a load of nonsense with Manoj Modi, and, quite honestly if ET Now want to behave like a tabloid, let them behave like that. Thiik hai chalegaa...We are also watching

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: An—d, an—d , aaah, I think somebody is passing on information everywhere, I don’t know how or what.

Niira Radia: like?

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Like, I think who are all meeting Manoj (Modi?), and like all those things you know. Who's going where. Partly must be leaking from media itself, but maybe I think one should check.

Niira Radia: Well It can't be from my office because no body knows

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: No, no, I dont think so but then

Niira Radia: Rohini told me that Shankar Adwal was telling but he does not know the itinerary

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Nah, How can ... he himself aajkal ghar se nikaltaa hii nahii hai wo moTaa bhaaii

Niira Radia: Rohini says Shanakr Adwal was sometimes even planting negative stories against RIL

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: I don't know, I mean he's hardly anywhere in circulation these days

Niira Radia: Never mind, never mind. Wo Andhra...kii letter once I get it I will give it to you, but not now... abhii hai nahii

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Yeah, yeah, no problem, no hurry.

Niira Radia: Lekin front page pe aayegii to duuNgii main.. aajkal I don't trust these guys... I wont give if its not front page

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Haan, no problem, During the day I had a word with our friend...and he said let's have the full details and then we can work on it

Niira Radia: Haan, but if they don't give me front page for such an important letter, then I am not going to, you know...

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Hmmm. But...that again is unfortunate, you know... because that was situation once again beyond the control of our friends...that was the problem

Niira Radia: Generally you make sure naa of these things

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Yeah, yeah, I mean, but the way things are going the last 3-4 days... I mean there are 20 phone calls I think to Javed, Abheek, Rahul, everybody.... and they are running around everywhere sending people to meet X, Y, Z... whatever, whatever... you must have sensed the same thing in Bombay as well.. the same thing is happening

Niira Radia: Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: In fact I was thinking that maybe I should speak to you on some other phone number or something

Niira Radia: Why, you think they are monitoring my number?

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: I don’t know, might be possible. I mean some people...I can rule out nothing

Niira Radia: But Tony and them?

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Haan, whatever... whoever...I mean... whoever

Niira Radia: You call me on my Indicom, no? I will give you a missed call. I dont know which number to call you on because you on because you got so many numbers

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Now you know the reason why

Niira Radia: Hmm hmmm. So which number do I call you on? I will send you a missed call from one of my numbers now...

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Yeah this one is ok

Niira Radia: Ok I will send you a missed call from this number... from my Indicom And you can call me on that

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Sure sure sure. Yeah, yeah right, then I will call you on that and then speak to you

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: I think right now we need to see I think all this will probably...now... I think when the hearing starts... OK, but you know once the hearing (in Supreme court on Gas issue), starts all these things are going to [hotten up? quieten up?]

Niira Radia: Ok, but you need to be briefed. Ganu you have to be briefed on it. You still haven’t been briefed on the whole matter

[Niira Radia: something, not clear] milaa tum ko?

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Naa abhii tak nahii [laughs sheepishly]

Niira Radia: I don't know what Rohit is doing. I just can't believe it

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: I [not clear]

Niira Radia: If you are free tomorrow, can you come in and I'll brief you on the whole matter.. ?

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam:Sure, sure I will give you a call in the morning

Niira Radia: Let us just set up a time in the afternoon and we'll brief you

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Just give me a missed call on this number and I will speak to you in the morning then

Will do so right away

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Achha did these people get in touch with you. Shoma [or Somnath?], Jaiswal...or anybody

Niira Radia: Jaiswal had some stupid story about 40 [something -- MMSD?] after that.. and I told him you're being a bit silly... we are not going to comment now that the matter is subjudice... go and ask the government now...

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Haan

Niira Radia: They are doing some story but that doesn't hurt us now. Doesn't matter

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Nahii nahii but I...

Niira Radia: And they got it from Pandey, eh? RNRL

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Haan

Niira Radia: Who are they to decide whether the government is going to be intervener or respondent? unkii [indiscernible] aaj

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Now everything is in the hands of the court.

Niira Radia: Hmmm

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: I thought you should know about it, that's all

Niira Radia: I know the story is happening tomorrow

G. Ganapathy Subramaniam: Just give me a missed call from your other number and then I will give you a call in the morning.

Niira Radia: thiik hai, perfect