In addition, Tejpal & Aniruddha Bahal agrees to pay Rs.10 lakh each to Major Gen Ahluwalia for defaming article
Erstwhile magazine Tehelka’s editor Tarun Tejpal and journalist Aniruddha Bahal issued an unconditional apology to Major Gen Ahluwalia for defaming him by reporting that the army officer took the bribe and demanded whiskey. The unconditional apology was published as per the duo’s submission to the Delhi High Court, which had ordered Rs. Two crores as defamation in the case filed by the army officer. The apology was published in Hindustan Times newspaper as a public notice on Page 11 on January 22, 22 years after the defaming sting investigation in Tehelka Magazine.
“We, Tarun Tejpal and Aniruddha Bahal tender an unconditional apology to Major General M.S. Ahluwalia (Retd) for a media story dated March 13, 2001, by M/s Tehelka.com. In this undercover journalistic investigation on corruption in the defence procurement process, Operation Westend, in which dozens of people including officials and politicians were arraigned and subsequently indicted by the courts, it was stated that Major General M S Ahluwalia (Retd) had accepted a bribe of Rs.50,000 from reporter Mr. Mathew Samuel in the presence of the Lat Lt-Colonel Syal.
“Further in the videotape and transcript, it was indicated that Major General Ahluwalia had demanded Blue Label whisky and ten lakhs of rupees. We clarify that in the meeting that took place in November 2000 at Major General Ahluwalia’s house, neither did Major General Ahluwalia ask for nor accept a bribe or blue label whiskey and we unconditionally apologize for the error in the transcript/ tape, said Tejpal and Bahal after the wrong report, published 22 years ago.
The unconditional apology as public notice is published below.
In the earlier hearing on January 12, Tejpal and Bahal agreed to the Delhi High Court that they are ready to pay Rs.10 lakh each to Major General Ahluwalia for the defaming reports. In 2001, Tehelkha did a sting operation known as Operation West End alleging that Ahluwalia took bribes in defence deals. The sting operation was telecast on Tehelka.com and Zee TV Network, which also exposed then BJP President Bangaru Lakshman and Defence Minister George Fernadez’s close aide Jaya Jaitley for accepting bribes. Both were indicted by Courts. But Major General Ahluwalia approached courts, saying he was wrongly framed by the journalists in the sting operation.
Earlier Delhi High Court had ordered that Tejpal and journalists must pay Rs. Two Crore to Major General Ahluwalia for defaming. Tejpal and Bahal filed an appeal against the single judge’s order, tending apology and claiming that they don’t have Rs. Two crore to pay compensation. A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora heard the matter and said that in cases like these, the major relief is the apology and it should be published by Tejpal and Bahal in a major English newspaper.
The High Court took note of Senior Advocates Sidharth Luthra and Pramod Kumar Dubey that Tejpal and Bahal cannot afford to pay such a huge amount. Ahluwalia’s counsel argued that the officer lived with stigma for nearly 22 years and that a mere apology was not enough. He said that Tejpal and Bahal must deposit a substantial amount
The Bench considered the case and said, for now, they (Tejpal and Bahal) will tender apologies and deposit Rs.10 lakh each. The Court said that it will hear the appeal and decide the quantum of damages to be awarded. The next hearing is scheduled in April.[1]
Tarun Tejpal is currently facing Goa Police’s appeal in the Mumbai High Court in the molestation case against a lady journalist. The trial court acquitted him from charges of sexual abuse.
Reference:
[1] Tehelka’s sting operation – Tejpal offers an apology and journalists to pay Rs.10 lakh each to Major Gen Ahluwalia for defamation – Jan 12, 2024, PGurus.com
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