NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday filed a charge sheet in a court here against BJP leader Bangaru Laxman under Sec. 9 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, in one of the Tehelka tapes cases.

He was charged with taking illegal gratification for exercising personal influence over a public servant.

The CBI registered the case on December 6, 2004 against Mr. Laxman and two of his personal staff members. During 2000-01, Tehelka.com conducted secret operations for exposing corruption in defence procurements. The Tehelka functionaries floated a fictitious firm, M/s West End International, London, supposedly dealing in the supply of defence equipment. They contacted a number of persons, including Defence Ministry officials, Army officers, politicians and businessmen — operating as middlemen in the field of defence procurements. Tehelka reporters also contacted Mr. Laxman, then BJP president and a Member of Parliament. All meetings were video recorded and made public by Tehelka in March 2001.

Asked for his comments on the charge sheet against the former party president, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said: "The law will take its own course."

The then BJP-led NDA Government appointed a Commission of Inquiry to look into the Tehelka expose. In October 2004, the Congress-led UPA Government wound up the Commission and entrusted the case to the CBI. The agency registered nine cases against various persons, including Mr. Laxman and his personal staff.

According to the charge sheet, between December 12, 2000 and January 6, 2001, Tehelka representatives held eight meetings with Laxmanand his personal staff.. His assistance was sought in getting favourable orders from the Defence Ministry in respect of hand-held thermal imagers offered to be supplied by M/s West End International, the charge sheet said.

Tehelka representatives offered Rs. 5 lakh to Mr. Laxman of which the initial payment of Rs. 1 lakh was received by him at his office on January 5, 2001.

For the remaining amount, Mr. Laxman allegedly gave his preference for payment in dollars.

The charge sheet said that during discussions with the Tehelka representatives, Mr. Laxman reportedly agreed to intercede with the Defence Secretary on behalf of the firm. He also advised them to engage agents for liaison works, suggesting that the liaison with the Government could be "through us."

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