The Hindu : National : Tehelka seeks compensation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 22, 2004

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National

Tehelka seeks compensation

NEW DELHI, JUNE 21. Even as a London-based expert today told the Commission inquiring into the Tehelka expose on alleged corruption in defence deals that the tapes were ``original," Justice Phukan heading the probe said a decision on the matter would only be taken after hearing arguments.

"I will say today the expert has only said that tapes which were given to us were camera original and genuine. Other matters... would be examined, expert would be examined, cross-examined, thereafter I will decide," he told NDTV 24X7.

He said he would submit the final report to the Government in six months.

'Big relief'

Expressing ``big relief'' at their tapes being declared "original" by the forensic expert, Tehelka Managing Editor, Tarun Tejpal today demanded a compensation for "three-and-a-half years of victimisation" by the BJP-led NDA Government.

He suggested that the Government could constitute a committee of eminent persons to assess the damages and decide accordingly about the compensation. Stating that the investigation procedure of the Commission looking into the Tehelka expose had been affected by the immoralities of the previous government, he demanded that a proper inquiry be instituted to get to the truth of the allegations of corruption in defence deals.

He said he had already written to the Prime Minister seeking changes in the way Tehelka Commission went about its duty.

— PTI, UNI

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