RIL apologises to Chidambaram for 'derogatory' remarks

Reliance Industries (RIL) on Wednesday tendered a "profuse apology" to home minister P Chidambaram for remarks by one of its staff purportedly suggesting he was a beneficiary in the 2G spectrum scam.

Responding to a legal notice from Chidambaram, RIL group president V Balasubramanian said in a letter to the home minister's lawyer stating that one of its employees KR Raja had in a private telephonic conversation with lobbyist Niira Radia "made certain remarks which were unjustified, unwarranted and derogatory in nature".

Subramanian said that Raja had been severely reprimanded for his "irresponsible and baseless statement". As a corporate entity RIL tendered its "profuse apology" and regretted the incident.

Raja, in a separate apology, wrote to the home minister's lawyer that during a "private conversation on one-to-one basis" with Radia he had made certain remarks without any basis or justification which were derogatory in nature relating to Chidambaram.

He, therefore, tendered an "unqualified and profound" apology for having made the remarks "in the heat of the moment without realising the implications and without any expectation of the remarks being recorded or coming in public domain".

Chidambaram's lawyers had served a notice on Raja demanding an unconditional apology for a conversation between him and Radia which was recorded and carried in the media.

The home minister said in a statement that the conversation between Raja and Radia is "reckless and malicious gossip".

On the basis of the media reports, the BJP had demanded Chidambaram's resignation alleging he was a beneficiary in the 2G scam.