INDIA
Tehelka sting: Police complaint against Aaj Tak reporter
Sunday, 28 October 2007
New Delhi, October 28: The Tehelka expose on Gujarat riots has claimed its first casualty. Gujarat government pleader for the Nanavati-Shah commission, Arvind Pandya, who had been stung, put in his papers.
And as cable TV blackout continued in Ahmedabad, a plea has been filed in the Supreme Court asking for the tapes to be made admissible.
Pandya has excelled in his dual role as a VHP functionary and the government pleader at the Nanavati commission. Till of course, he was caught on the Tehelka tape saying, were Modi not a minister, he would have burst bombs. Now he says he has been deceived.
Pandya says, “They put words in my mouth. I have decided to fight. I have filed a complaint against the Aaj Tak correspondent Dhimant and two others.''
An FIR has been lodged at Maninagar police station in Ahmedabad where the FIR has been lodged accusing the reporter of criminal breach of trust and conspiracy. Dhimant says, “The swiftness with which the police moved is astonishing.''
In the state capital, the channels are still off-air. But the state's legal problems will mount. Teesta Setalvad filed an application in the Supreme Court saying that Tehelka evidence be taken note of.
The ball is now in the judiciary's court. When the case comes up for hearing again in the Supreme Court, the Gujarat government counsel will have a lot of explaining to do. -Agencies
The Siasat Daily, 2004.
Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Abids, Hyderabad - 500001, AP, India
Tel: +91-40-24744180, Fax: +91-40-24603188
contact@siasat.com