The Hindu : National : Cass did not ask for computers to verify tapes, says Phukan Panel

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Friday, Jun 25, 2004

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Cass did not ask for computers to verify tapes, says Phukan Panel

NEW DELHI, JUNE 24. The Justice S.N. Phukan Commission, inquiring into the Tehelka tapes, today contradicted the claims by a London-based forensic expert, who had examined the tapes, that he had asked for the computer purportedly used by the news portal to process them.

Citing a letter received by the Commission, its counsel S.K. Mishra said the expert, Mathew James Cass, had only asked for the recording equipment used by Tehelka. There was no demand for the computer, he said.

During his cross-examination earlier, Mr. Cass, Associate Director at the Bureau of Forensic Science, London, had said that he requested the Commission to supply him the computer, but did not get it.

The Samata Party leader, Jaya Jaitly, in a written submission before the Commission, referred to the communication it had received from the Bureau and said, "it is likely that (Union Minister) Kapil Sibal, having come to know about the contents, findings and identity of the expert, had informed Tehelka.com about the same, who in turn, may have informed the identity of the expert to The Guardian.

She claimed that Mr. Sibal was on the advisory board of Tehelka.com.

The communication from the Managing Director of the Bureau, made public by the Commission yesterday, said Tehelka.com and the India correspondent of The Guardian paper had approached them to interview Mr. Cass.

"From what they said it would appear that a Minister has pre-empted Mr. Cass' evidence to the Commission and we have found reference to this on at least one news website," the communication said.

Mr. Cass' cross-examination was completed today and the Commission fixed July 19 for hearing arguments. It was also decided to hear arguments on behalf of former Defence Minister, George Fernandes, on July 23.

— PTI

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