National

Former Defence official denies Tehelka allegation

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI April 24. The former Additional Defence Secretary. L.M. Mehta, today deposed before the Justice Venkataswami Commission denying the allegation that he had accepted bribes from the `Tehelka' team of reporters who were behind the sting operation.

Mr. Mehta, who is now Adviser in the Planning Commission, told the panel that the videotapes by the portal on the expose on corruption in defence deals had been doctored with malafide intentions.

He submitted that the tape showing him picking a packet allegedly containing a gold chain could not be construed as receiving bribe as he had returned the packet, which was however not shown in the footage. During the cross examination, Mr. Mehta, also denied that he demanded Rs. 2 lakhs as bribe from the agents of fictitious arms company and said it was a malicious allegation. He also said that he had no role in the procurement of arms as it was done by the ordnance department.

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