National
Witch-hunt against Tehelka alleged
By Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, FEB. 5. Tehelka.com, the newsportal that exposed corruption in the defence establishment last year which shook the Vajpayee Government, today had two former Union Law Ministers - Ram Jethmalani and Shanti Bhushan - coming to its defence and condemning the Government for the ``witch-hunt'' launched against the website.
Addressing a news conference here, Mr. Jethmalani and Mr. Bhushan, along with the Tehelka chief, Tarun Tejpal, criticised the Government for what they called was a ``mockery'' of proceedings before the Venkataswami Commission.
The legal luminaries condemned the Government for unleashing its investigating agencies on First Global and its owner, Shankar Sharma, which held 14.5 per cent share in Tehelka.com. In their opinion, the cases against First Global were ``concocted'',``false'' and nothing short of a ``frame-up.''
Mr. Bhushan attacked the Government on two counts. First, he said that the sale of shares to financial institutions by First Global was strictly in accordance with rules and regulations and prior permission of the Reserve Bank of India was not necessary under the existing FEMA provisions. Secondly, allotment of shares by private placement was done at a fixed price and as per the guidelines of the SEBI it was totally permissible under ``Delivery Versus Payment'' route. Mr. Jethmalani, who represents First Global before the Venkataswami Commission, took strong exception to the Government decision to keep Mr. Shankar Sharma away from the proceedings of the commission. Mr. Sharma was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on December 18 and is lodged in the Tihar Jail.
``This is a complete mockery of proceedings of the Venkataswami Commission. The Government has paralysed a good, honest and efficient judge,'' Mr. Jethmalani said.
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
National
|
