Date:05/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/05/stories/2006120503591000.htm

National

Rajdeep Sardesai exempted from appearance

Atiq Khan

Rajdeep Sardesai

LUCKNOW : Editor-in Chief of CNN-IBN Rajdeep Sardesai was on Monday exempted from personal appearance before the Uttar Pradesh Assembly after he presented himself before Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey and submitted the unedited compact disks of a sting operation sought by the House Investigation Committee enquiring into the issue.

The matter was treated as closed but the Speaker said that the committee would continue with its investigation. Mr. Pandey told newspersons that Mr Sardesai expressed regret.

However, Mr. Sardesai later clarified that he had expressed regret only on the procedure and not on the merits of the case. He said he fully supported what was telecast.

Mr. Sardesai was to make a personal appearance in the Assembly but was in the Speaker's chamber for about five hours as efforts were made to sort out the issue in the presence of Mr. Pandey, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mohd Azam Khan, Leader of Opposition Lalji Tandon, Congress Legislature Party leader Pramod Tiwari and BSP leader Swamy Prasad Maurya.

Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav also joined in during the course of several adjournments, which the Vidhan Sabha witnessed.

With the issue sorted out, the Speaker recounted that the despite several reminders sent to Mr. Sardesai by the Investigating Committee Chairman ( Samajwadi Party MLA P.K. Rai) for sending the original CD of the sting operation, the same was not forthcoming.

Mr. Pandey said the House passed a resolution for Mr. Sardesai's personal appearance on October 27, 2006 in police custody.

He said Mr. Sardesai submitted the unedited CD on Monday and was present before him.

In his letter, dated, October 13, 2006, sent to the Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Mr. Sardesai said he was always willing to appear before the Investigating Committee with the relevant tapes.

He said his absence had neither been deliberate nor intentional and he had never intended to denigrate the majesty of the august House or the authority of the committee.