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Tehelka to boycott probe panel

New Delhi Jan. 4. Terming the appointment of Justice S.N. Phukan as the new chairman of the Inquiry Commission into defence deals as ``another round of charade and a wild goose chase'', the Tehelka Managing Editor, Tarun Tejpal, today said his news portal would boycott further proceedings of the commission.

Reacting to the appointment of Justice Phukan, Mr. Tejpal said that in the last two years ``we have fully cooperated with the commission headed by Justice K. Venkatswamy. Our lives are now consumed by the proceedings. We have neither the resources nor the desire to continue with the charade.''

He said the Tehelka had furnished all the details, including the tapes, to the commission and there was nothing more to provide in connection with the "fraudulent" defence deals. The protracted litigation had dealt a body blow to the company's finances, Mr. Tejpal said, adding that only three people were now working with the portal. ``All other staffers have left the company because of non-payment of salaries. The company is deeply in debt.''

He said the Tehelka had been exonerated by the Joint Parliamentary Committee. ``Instead of wasting public money on continued witch-hunt against us, the Government must look at all fraudulent defence deals and punish the guilty.'' The new Judge should inquire into the evidence which had so far come out against ``corrupt politicians and Army men''.

Jaya for early end to probe

Accusing Tehelka and the Congress of derailing the probe, the senior Samata Party leader, Jaya Jaitly, today wanted the inquiry to be completed as early as possible so that the truth could come out.

Reacting to the appointment of Justice Phukan, Ms. Jaitly said she would not make a demand for any particular time frame for the commission to complete the probe. ``But sooner, the better.''

"We are not afraid of the truth. We want the truth to be established and do not want trading of charges''.

UNI, PTI

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