Tehelka magazine’s founder, editor Tarun Tejpal admits falsely accusing Major Gen Ahluwalia of taking bribes; says will apologize
Erstwhile magazine Tehelka’s editor Tarun Tejpal and journalist Aniruddha Bahl agreed to deposit Rs.10 lakh each and told the Delhi High Court on Friday that they will publish unconditional apologies in a major English daily like Hindustan Times for defaming an Army officer in the year 2001. Tejpal and Bahal said that they would make it clear that Major General M S Ahluwalia neither asked for nor accepted any bribe in their sting operation report.
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.
After the sting operation, a court of inquiry was held which recommended Ahluwalia’s dismissal from service. However, the then Army Chief, in his discretion, awarded him the punishment of “severe displeasure (recordable)” and he was held to be “unbecoming of an Army officer”.
In July 2023, a single judge of the High Court found Tehelka, Tejpal, Bahal, and another journalist Mathew Samuel guilty of defamation and ordered them to pay Rs. Two crores as compensation to Ahluwalia.
Tejpal and Bahal filed an appeal against the single judge’s order, tending apology and claiming that they don’t have Rs. Two crores 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.
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.
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I fully agree with Vijay ji. A mere apology won’t suffice. Please imagine te damage these duos have done to their victims who were totally innocent. Bangaru Lakshman died as a convicted criminal which damaged the honour and reputation not only him but also of his family members. Shri George Fernadish who was an absolutely honest politician helplessly diec as soiled person. Shri Ahluwalia was defamed by his own Army chief as recordable severe displeasure and unbecoming of an Army officer. Such a defamation was worst than the DEATH Penalty. The sting operation done by Tejpal, Bahl and Methew Samuel was with sinister motive, ill intension, and a desired social and political consequences. Therfore, they must be punished with the severest of punishment.
These were the star journalists of the rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous in the political crowd of the capital. If they do not have the money to pay the victim they should spend the remaining life in jail.