(Phone rings)
(Background announcement not audible) Manoj Modi: Hello Niira Radia: Hi, Manoj, hi.
Manoj Modi: Haan Niira Radia: Nothing, I had just sent you a email I had got from Senthil [Senthil Chengalvarayan of Forbes]. I just wanted to know -
Manoj Modi: How is Senthil relevant in this? Yeh toh Indrajit [Indrajit Gupta of Forbes] naah? (This is Indrajit Gupta of Forbes, isn't it?) Niira Radia: Nahin nahin (No no), Senthil is being told by uh uh what's his name?
Manoj Modi: How is he relevant, Indrajit had sent you that bogus mail na? Niira Radia: Exactly
Manoj Modi: So we want apology from Indrajit Niira Radia: Nahin nahin apology toh publication mein aa rahi hai naa... Apology toh woh (-No no, the apology will appear in the publication, no...The apology -)
Manoj Modi: Nahin nahin, publication kuch nahi hota hai...Mereko 48 hours mein apology chaahiye from Indrajit (No no, publication is nothing...I want an apology from Indrajit in 48 hours). Niira Radia: No no no no no no....
Manoj Modi: Who, who ever is the editor? Niira Radia: Listen listen listen...Why Senthil is been - sent it. Apology will come from Indrajit only, what Senthil has sent me a draft of the type of apology and of course giving his own perspective as to because Raghav (inaudible) -
Manoj Modi: Why is he sending it to you? They have officially received official communication from AS Dayal, they need to communicate to AS Dayal officially. Niira Radia: I know.
Manoj Modi: They will get official response. Niira Radia: Manoj, I agree. That is why -
Manoj Modi: I am taking it to criminal thing, I am not, I am going to...I am...I have already talked to criminal people here, police and everybody. Niira Radia: Hmmm.
Manoj Modi: I am going as soon as I as I don't receive officially in 48 hours, I am taking criminal charge and that I have written to Raghav [Raghav Bahl, Forbes and CNBC head] . Niira Radia: Hmmm.
Manoj Modi: You have not seen my full communication? Niira Radia: I have read your... read the the ...the (inaudible).
Manoj Modi: You are not supposed to share it with anybody, haan? Niira Radia: I have not sent it to anyone.
Manoj Modi: No, don't send and don't share also, with anybody. Niira Radia: No, I have not sent it to anyone. It is only lying with me.
Manoj Modi: Don't even...Don't even discuss it with anybody. Niira Radia: It's not gone to anyone. Manoj, it is lying with me only.
Manoj Modi: What I am saying is don't even mention... Niira Radia: Not even to my own people it's lying with me. Manoj Modi: That's right I just wanted you to know that what all I have written to him.
Niira Radia: I saw that. I have read it. The point I am making is the reason he sent it to me is because obviously they got the legal notice. He did not send it to me as a... to send it via me...he didn't do that. What he sent to me was this is what I want to send. I have told him I cannot comment on it. Manoj Modi: Haan (Yes).
Niira Radia: I have already said to him respond to the lawyers directly. Manoj Modi: Correct. That is the right thing.
Niira Radia: So what I am asking you is that, the reason, I had to any case send it to you was this is what they've said. Manoj Modi: Haan...woh toh...Raghav has already sent a mail to Mukesh.
Niira Radia: Hmmm. Manoj Modi: I have sent you a mail in that he has mention na?
Niira Radia: Haan... You have only sent Atul Dayal's notice. I have only got that.
(pause)
Manoj Modi: Ohhhhh acchhaa acchhaa acchhaa Niira Radia: From you I have only got Atul Dayal's notice.
(pause)
Niira Radia: I don't have anything else, Manoj.
Manoj Modi: Then, I don't know how, I had forwarded one uh, mail - . Niira Radia: Nahin nahin nahin (No no no) it's not...No, I have got -
Manoj Modi: I had forwarded a mail, which I had written to ,uh, in fact, I had forwarded it two days ago about what I had written to Raghav. Niira Radia: Nahin, woh nahi aaya mere paas Manoj (No, I didn't receive that, Manoj).
Manoj Modi: I had written to him the day I got your this uh... Niira Radia: Indrajit's reply.
Manoj Modi: Indrajit's reply na. Niira Radia: Hmmm.
Manoj Modi: At the same time I've uh, drafted and sent a mail to, uh, Raghav. Niira Radia: Hmmm. I don't have it.
Manoj Modi: If it is the attitude, then okay, it's fine. Niira Radia: Hmmm.
Manoj Modi: And uh I told him that if you behave like this I understand. And usme yeh sab likh diyaa thaa maine ki (And I wrote all this there, that) you...um...you have become completely corrupt organisation, all your reporters are corrupt, all your this thing (sic) is not acceptable and you are running a yellow journalism.
Niira Radia: Hmm. Manoj Modi: Yeh sab likhaa hai maine Raghav ko (I wrote all this to Raghav).
Niira Radia: (Inaudible). Manoj Modi: (Inaudible) Main jab bheja na tabhi tumko immediately forward kiyaa thaa (When I sent it, I'd immediately forwarded it to you).
Niira Radia: Nahin Manoj mere mail main dekh rahi hoon and I know how I respond to my mail. Manoj Modi: I am surprised yaar.
Niira Radia: Nahin yaar, I am telling you, I mean I, even now I am sitting on my emails (sic) and I am just going through two days ago and right till the weekend. The only mail I have got from you is literally the Atul Dayal notice. Manoj Modi: See on this subject I had sent you all the thing, I don't know why uh -
Niira Radia: Nahin hai (It's not there), I've checked right till Friday. Manoj Modi: Nahin nahin, maine yeh kya - mera desktop se kiya thaa. Niira Radia: Hmm.
Manoj Modi: I will check on my desktop ki whether I have sent you or I had sent - kept it in a that in a draft file. I will have to check and I am not in my room. Niira Radia: Okay.
Manoj Modi: I will check. I..I have that impression ki jaise maine bhej diya immediately maine tumko forward kiya tha (I have the impression that just as I sent it, I'd immediately forwarded it to you). Aisa mereko , my recollection is... that is why I am saying you don't share it with anybody. Means (sic) otherwise yeh toh, yeh this, this toh you have filed with, we have sent to them...so this toh there is nothing secret about this.
Niira Radia: No this is why sent which is what I saw (inaudible) - Manoj Modi: No no no no no no no, I had sent...arrey maine isme main likha tha ki (arrey, I had written in this that) you're saying that your uh yout Indrajit is saying that is a source-based story and all that and I said forget about source-based even factual story you don't print for ADAG (Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group) and you will do everything for us.
Niira Radia: Hmm. Mmhmm...what did he say to that? Manoj Modi: Aur isme toh main criminal karne wala hoon uske paas mere ko (And in this case I am going to file a criminal case, I -) - I want to - even if I accept the apology I want to know their source and if they don't give me the source I am going to file police complaint regarding the source.
Niira Radia: Mmhmmm. Manoj Modi: Hmm. Yeh koi chhodne wala hoon kya main. This is concerning Mukesh personally and when Mukesh ko personal attack karegaa toh main Manoj Modi hoon (Hmm. Do you think I would let this be? This is concerning Mukesh personally and when a personal attack is launched on Mukesh` by anyone, I am Manoj Modi.)
Niira Radia: Hmmm. Manoj Modi: Chodunga nahin kisi ko (I won't let anyone go).
Niira Radia: Nahin nahin, theek baat hai, Manoj theek baat hai (No no, it's the right thing, Manoj, it's the right thing). So everything is written. No, I have not got that email so -
Manoj Modi: I will check , I mean, I'll not (sic) today be able to forward because I am not in my desk. I will check my desk ki kyuun nahi gaya (about why , it's not been sent), I need to investigate that, nahin gaya toh (if it hasn't been sent). Actually kyaa hua hoga means (sic) I must have made the forward, I mean, I must have done forward to you and some call-wall (sic) must have come and then I must have stored it as saved draft or while taking the call I have not forwarded. Something...one of these two things must have happened.
Niira Radia: Hmm, hmm. Achhaa woh (Okay that) - Mnnoj Modi: I was under the impression that I have sent you and that is why I am saying don't share don't share...don't share otherwise.
Niira Radia: No, I meant Atul Dayal's notice. I have got that. Manoj Modi: No no, Atul Dayal kaa toh official it is yaar (No no, Atul Dayal's is official, yaar).
(Inaudible) Niira Radia: - lying with Senthil also (inaudible) (Laughter)
Manoj Modi: Woh toh bhej diyaa na already. Woh toh pehle hi bhej diya main aur usme toh, accha unko bheja hai (I've sent that already, no. I've sent that in the beginning itself, and in it, okay I've sent it to them) and after we sent only, thereafter only, I also received it after that only. I read the draft of the notice then Atul Dayal finalise it and sent it.
Niira Radia: Mmhmm. Manoj Modi: Then he forwarded me next day.
Niira Radia: Mmhmm. Manoj Modi: Then I sent it to you immediately as soon as I got it, I forwarded it to you. I forwarded it to you, I forwarded it to (inaudible) also.
Niira Radia: Mmhmm, okay, I have got uh, no, I have only Atul Dayal's, I mean I have only got that - Manoj Modi: No, no, and this, this legal notice ke pehle (before the legal notice) I had sent to Raghav that such and such thing has happened, this Indrajit Gupta's reply and all that, this is all this nonsense that is there so...uh...I am going to proceed now legally.
Niira Radia: Hmmm. Manoj Modi: So he had send, I'm - my extreme apology and I need to take him to task .. however, you know, to help me put pressure you please proceed legally.
Niira Radia: Hmmm...inko itni himmat nahi hai apne editors ko handle karne ke liye (Don't they have enough courage to handle their editors? Manoj Modi: Suno, mereko yeh aaya na, toh maine bhej diya phir usko,legal bhii aur uske saath - uske saath mein usko - uska jawaab aayaa na, uske baad bhi maine jawaab usko theek se diya (Listen, when this came to me, then I sent it, legal also and with that - when the answer arrived, after that I gave them a proper answer).
Niira Radia: Hmm. Manoj Modi: Hey, you are coming here na, next week?
Niira Radia: Yeah, I am here from, I am there from Sunday. Manoj Modi: Haan haan, bas toh I'll uh, I'll share with you everything. In fact, Sunday I am in Delhi. No, not Sunday, sorry, Friday.
Niira Radia: Uski...Sunil Mittal ka (Sunil Mittal's)? Manoj Modi: Sunil ke, haan (Sunil's, yes).
Niira Radia: Hmm, hmm. Manoj Modi: So...
Niira: I need to talk to you, I met up with him. I haven't met him after that. But I have been working on this matter. Manoj Modi: Haan, toh us din mil sakti hai nah? (Yes, so you can meet us on that day, isn't it)? You are there. Friday you can meet me?
Niira Radia: Main aapko, I will meet you in Delhi, but not at Sunil Mittal's function. I am not going. Manoj Modi: Not Sunil Mittal's place yaar.
Niira Radia: Hmm. Manoj Modi: Airport se mein jaaonga na yahaan Taj mein, toh Taj mein apun mil lenge alag se (I'll be going to the Taj from the airport, so we can meet at the Taj separately).
Niira Radia: Haan, you and I will meet then. That will be good. Manoj Modi: Usme apne ko kya hai, we can spend whatever time is required between two of us.
Niira Radia: Okay, I think that will be good on Friday. I am coming on Sunday, uh...I had a three-hour meeting with Economic Times today. Manoj Modi: Hmm.
Niira Radia: Poor Rahul is literally on his knees again. But I need to brief you on that. Because I think there are a lot of issues going on and we have to examine everything holistically so, today, even I had a frank discussion on everything including the interactions you've had. And he's...I don't think they are not open to doing it. I think they are being cautious, is my reading today. I mean, it was literally, we had a very very frank discussion, only him and me, I did not take anybody with me and neither did he bring any of his colleagues.
Manoj Modi: Hmm. Niira Radia: So I think they are also examining, aisaa nahin hai lekin (it's not like that but) they are also under pressure.
Manoj Modi: Haan theek hai, theek hai, dekhenge, apun milte hai phir baat karte hai. (Okay, okay, let's see, let us meet and talk] We are not under any pressure whatsoever. Niira Radia: Nahin theek hai (No, okay). Just one thing, Manoj, Monday ko jo presentation hai nah (the presentation that's there on Monday) -
Manoj Modi: Haan. Niira Radia: Mukesh ke saath (With Mukesh). Manoj Modi: Haan.
Niira Radia: You will be there, na? Manoj Modi: I will be there. Mukesh ka...see my being there is less important than as much as Mukesh being there. Mukesh has to clear everything.
Niira Radia: I know but I just need your help to clear that because we really need media engagement. Manoj Modi: I understand but you have to be - see this - you have to treat as if you are directly dealing with Mukesh. I will be sitting there and of course, I will be there in the whole presentation and everytime because if Mukesh is there, I will be there.
Niira Radia: Hmm. Manoj Modi: But between you and me, we can't agree just two of us, because this is concerning all the businesses and everything and all of those things that has to be cleared by Mukesh only.
Niira Radia: No, no, I agree, I agree. I agree. So I am also going - meeting Prasad on Tuesday on that - I will present both the presentations, that I am going to present to him also. This is MDA's - MDA's image, you know, this is his presentation. So it's very very important.
Manoj Modi: No no, but you have to discuss everything. See, you can't just discuss only MDA's things, you have to discuss the entire -see whatever is the holistic approach, whatever you want to discuss na, the entire thing you need to get cleared by MDA.
Niira Radia: No, that's what I'm doing, I have got all of them ready. Retail bhi ready, Neeta ka bbhi ready hai (Retail also, Neeta's is ready too.) Manoj Modi: Woh bhej dene na, pehle se Mukesh ko (Send that beforehand to Mukesh) because you see, good that you are doing it on Monday then if you send it on Saturday, Mukesh will read it on Sunday also. Niira Radia: Ok, I will send all of them.
Manoj Modi: Hmmm.. no problem. Niira Radia: Okay.
Manoj Modi: And we will meet on Friday then. Niira Radia: Okay. You will call me then and let me know what time na?
Manoj Modi: Yeah, I mean, I'm most probably coming by Jet flight. Niira Radia: Mmhmm.
Manoj Modi: And uh, coming straight - going straight to Taj Palace mein uska kuch function hai shaadi ka (going straight to the Taj Palace where there is some wedding function of his). Niira Radia: Right, yeah.
Manoj Modi: So either we can uh - or I don't know how long this Taj Palace from airport is, may be half hour? Niira Radia: It's about 20 minutes.
Manoj Modi: Haan toh agar uh (So maybe if uh), we can meet in Taj Palace, we can just uh meet somewhere. Niira Radia: What time do you land?
Manoj Modi: I'll, I'll tell you because I don't know when (inaudible) my secretary will know. I am not aware. Niira Radia: Okay, then let me know.
Manoj Modi: So because uh...(pause)...well, in that case, we can spend half hour and then I can go for the function. I will spend half hour there and just uh, get lost. Niira Radia: (laughs) Accha, theek hai (Okay, alright), taking a flight back, is it?
Manoj Modi: Yeah yeah, what else? Niira Radia: Okay. Alright. (Laughs)
Manoj Modi: Yeh in log kaa apne ko kissii ka pachtaa nahii hai, kisi kakhaanaa peena Niira Radia: Hmm, theek hai.
Manoj Modi: I will come home and have my dinner then. (Laughter) Niira Radia: That is a good way to be, ha ha - Manoj Modi: Huh? Niira Radia: I said, that's a good way to be like that.
Manoj Modi: Toh phir kya apne mind mein phir koi clarity rehti hai ki I have not had anybody's salt. Niira Radia: Haan, agreed.
Manoj Modi: Baraabar hai na (Isn't that right) ? Niira Radia: Mmhmm.
Manoj Modi: Ek hi aadmi hai jo apneko protect karne kaa hai, woh hai Mukesh Ambani, baaki I don't really care. Niira Radia: Mmhmm. I agree. (giggles) I am so glad, I am glad so please help me so that I can build that image. Thank you.
Manoj Modi: Yeah yeah, we will do. We are committed to build. Niira Radia: Thank you.
Manoj Modi: And uh, this Senthil piece, we don't have to reply, isn't it? Niira Radia: You don't have to reply, I sent it to you, I am not going to reply to it, I'm gonna just - I have already told him on the phone that you please send it to the lawyer. So in the morning, I will tell him again that you have 48 hours to respond. And I suggest you send it to the lawyer.
Manoj Modi: Yeah, yeah you say, because then the Atul bhai will suggest whatever the changes required because this has been now given by Mukesh to staight (sic) Atul Dayal who is going to handle it ekdum (absolutely) sternly. I have not seen and...and that information I have given to Raghav I have not seen Mukesh in such anguish and pain in my whole life. Niira Radia: Hmm.
Manoj Modi: And this is, and this is, first time I have seen. Otherwise, Mukesh has never acted and proceeded criminally against anybody. Niira Radia: Hmm.
Manoj Modi: Even his sworn enemies. But in this case, he has said take firm action and to whatever extent possible. Niira Radia: Hmm. I agree with you, Manoj. Uske upar kuch karnaa padega (We'll have to do something about this) because if I - even if I look at the apology which I have told Senthil, I mean when he was reading it out on the phone to me itself, I told him your apology in itself is an apology...because if you just look at it, you are uh -
Manoj Modi: He will not accept such things, (inaudible) the apology is a very meek apology and we are not going to accept such apology. Niira Radia: I mean, what is he saying he says, we have just been told some of the facts in the column were inaccurate and we regret it. What are you talking these are absolute lies, what is in your this thing - and you have to admit that you have carried lies. Nothing short of that, you know, that is -
Manoj Modi: We are not going to accept such thing, na. Niira Radia: Hmm.
Manoj Modi: We will not accept, we will proceed we will file a libel suit, we will file criminal complaint because we have figured out how to file criminal complaint in this. Niira Radia: Defamation ho jaata hai na (inaudible) (It becomes defamation then, doesn't it).
Manoj Modi: Nahin, nahin, defamation hai, doosra bhi bahut hai is mein (No no, it is defamation, but there's more to it). Niira Radia: Hmm. Doosra matlab (More to it, in the sense) from the other point of view? Who has given that information, na?
Manoj Modi: Nahin nahin, is mein to kyaa hai, kaun source hai, yeh sab hum immediately puchenge aur jo bhi uskaa investigation hoga usmein police-volice (sic) aayegi, pakdenge logon ko (No no, what's there, who the source is, all this we will immediately ask and whatever investigation takes place into that matter, the police will arrive, we'll catch people.) Niira Radia: Source ka ek issue hai, unko protection mil jaati hai. (One issue with the source is they receive protection.)
Manoj Modi: Don't worry, don't worry. Protection nahi milta hai in this case (Protection is not given in this case). We will see na, we will figure out. Is mein toh kitna bhi 10, 20, 50 crore kharchaa hogaa toh koi problem nahi hai (Even if we have to spend 10, 20, 50 crores, it's not a problem). Niira Radia: Hmm theek hai, theek hai, I agree with you. I am in favour of killing this sort of nonsense, once and for all.
Manoj Modi: Yeah. Niira Radia: Getting rid once for all because this is enough you know. (Inaudible) I told Rahul Joshi also. But then jo bhi hai , negative nahin kar rahe hai hamaare khilaaf, you know, woh sab bandh karenge (But then, whatever it is, they're not doing anything negative against us, you know, we'll shut all that down).
Manoj Modi: Mhmmm, nahin, theek hai, isko toh theek se pilana hai mereko paani. (Tape ends)