Tehelka
Encyclopedia
Tehelka is an Indian weekly political magazine under the editorship of Tarun Tejpal
known for its undercover exposé style of journalism. Its cover price is Rs 20 per issue. The publication began in 2000 as a news website, Tehelka.com. It transitioned through a printed newspaper format until it became a magazine in 2007.
It first received local prominence in 2001 when it exposed match-fixing in Indian professional cricket. The same year, an investigation it carried out on defence procurement, called Operation Westend, received international attention, and led to the resignation of Indian Defence Minister.
(the secretary of the ruling party BJP
) taking a bribe for helping the bogus company in procuring government contracts. During the process, Tehelka also met Jaya Jaitly, the head of Samata Party
and a close aide of the defence minister George Fernandes
. There was an outcry when the scandal broke, and George Fernandes resigned although he was not accused of taking bribe. Laxman also resigned, while Jaya Jaitly accused Tehelka journalists of being Pakistani agents and raised doubts over the authenticity of the tapes. The tapes were sent to UK for forensic examination, and were confirmed as genuine.
Fernandes returned to power soon afterwards, and the inquiry set up to investigate the charges halted upon the resignation of the sitting judge, while his replacement performed an ineffectual job lacking in focus. The government turned the tables on Tehelka with an investigation into its conduct. The main financial backers of Tehelka were made targets of investigations from the customs, the police and the tax authorities. By 2003, the number of salaried employees in the company had reduced from 120 to 1, and the company was practically ruined. The meagre budget of Tehelka, then a startup media firm, was exhausted by legal expenses facing a Commission of Enquiry. According to the Editor Shoma Chaudhury
, Tehelka decided to bow out of the new Commission of Enquiry, after Justice Venkatswami was replaced with Justice Phookan.
In 2003, Tehelka was relaunched as a weekly newspaper, funded by 200 founding subscribers and other well-wishers who each donated Rs 100,000 (more than $2,000). Rs 3.6 crore (Rs 36 million) was so raised. Its original business plan included television, radio and book publishing ventures. According to Rediff.com, the newspaper initial print run of 150,000 copies had shrunk to 30,000 within six months. An issue of Tehelka is priced at Rs 10; sales are underpinned by a subscription offer of Rs 300 a year (48 issues) and negotiating deals with credit card companies, hotels and airlines to push Tehelka among their members.
The investigations against the MoD officials were revived in 2004, when the Congress-led government came to the power and handed over the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI).
In 2007, Tehelka once again underwent a transformation, and shifted to a regular magazine format. In September 2007, it came up with a Hindi news based web portal "Tehelka Hindi". In October 2007, it once again captured widespread attention for an elaborate sting operation that claimed to have captured on hidden camera several perpetrators of the 2002 Gujarat riots admitting to horrendous crimes, and revealing the riots to be part of a well-planned conspiracy that had state sanction. In october 2008 Tehelka launched its first fortnightly Hindi magazine. Right now Tehelka has four highly successful editions of its Hindi magazine - three regional editions and one national.
aimed to expose the corruption underlying India's large defence contracts. The original investigative piece by Tehelka in 2001 targeted several members of the then ruling coalition, the National Democratic Alliance
, headed by Bharatiya Janata Party
's Atal Behari Vajpayee. It showed several political figures, as well as army top brass, colluding to take bribes that approached 4% of orders totalling hundreds of crores in order to approve defence contracts. Tehelka also accused the MoD officials of accepting alcohol and services of the prostitutes, although the journal itself was criticised for the procurement of protitutes. Indeed, in September 2001, Tehelka's editor-in-chief, Tarun Tejpal, was charged with "immoral trafficking" for offering prostitutes to the MoD officials during the sting operation.
The minister in charge of Defence
, George Fernandes
of the Samata Party
, resigned after the tapes were made public, but he was reinstated later. Part of the tapes show the treasurer of his party talking about accepting bribes of 1 crore or more from arms dealer ex-Naval officer Lt-Cmdr Suresh Nanda, son of ex-Chief of Naval Staff Admiral S. M. Nanda
. However, George Fernandes was later absolved from this as even the CBI under UPA couldn't find any tangible evidence against him.
Initially the government, instead of acting on the evidence, accused Tehelka of fabricating allegations. However, five years later, in October 2006, the Central Bureau of Investigation
filed charges against George Fernandes, former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sushil Kumar
, and others in the Barak missile case, claiming that there was reasonable basis to suspect corruption and criminal conspiracy. In March 2008, the Nandas were arrested. Fernandes was interrogated in May 2008.
published in its 7 November 2007 issue, was based on a six-month long investigation and involved sting operation
s. It alleged that the violence was due to the connivance of the state police as well as the Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi
. The sting operation once again led to partisan criticism and raised questions on journalistic ethics.
Surendra: I saw him receiving money at Okhla.
Question: Where at Okhla?
Surendra: From Sharma's place. In front of Okhla depot there is a building. [Venod] Sharma owns entire building. We used to collect money from there itself.
Question: How much money?
Surendra: Whatever we needed.
Question: Whatever you say?
Surendra: Whatever we demand. We used to get 20-25 thousand every month just like that. His number is in mamu's ( Karan Rajput) diary.
, is a forensic study of the sting operation and alleges it was retaliation by the Indian government. In 2004, Art Silverblatt and Nikolai Zlobin
described Tehelka as a "muckraking site" in their book "International Communications: A Media Literacy Approach"
Tarun Tejpal (journalist)
Tarun J Tejpal is an Indian journalist, publisher and a novelist. He is the editor-in-chief and publisher of Tehelka magazine, which he founded in March 2000. He is married to Geetan Batra, a trustee of Salaam Baalak Trust. They have two daughters, Tiya & Cara...
known for its undercover exposé style of journalism. Its cover price is Rs 20 per issue. The publication began in 2000 as a news website, Tehelka.com. It transitioned through a printed newspaper format until it became a magazine in 2007.
It first received local prominence in 2001 when it exposed match-fixing in Indian professional cricket. The same year, an investigation it carried out on defence procurement, called Operation Westend, received international attention, and led to the resignation of Indian Defence Minister.
History
In 2001, Tehelka.com exposed the alleged culture of bribery at the Ministry of Defence (India) (MoD) by setting up a bogus London-based company, and contacted MoD officials for selling thermal binoculars to the Government of India. Tehelka claimed to have filmed Bangaru LaxmanBangaru Laxman
Bangaru Laxman is an Indian politician. He was a minister of state for railways in Government of India from 1999 to 2000. Later he became President of Bharatiya Janata Party but resigned soon after Tehelka corruption case.-Early life:...
(the secretary of the ruling party BJP
Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament...
) taking a bribe for helping the bogus company in procuring government contracts. During the process, Tehelka also met Jaya Jaitly, the head of Samata Party
Samata Party
The Samata Party is a political party in India. Initially formed as an offshoot of the Janata Dal in 1994 by Nitish Kumar and George Fernandes. The reason given was that the Janata Dal had shifted to casteism...
and a close aide of the defence minister George Fernandes
George Fernandes
George Mathew Fernandes is an Indian trade unionist, politician, journalist, agriculturist, and member of Rajya Sabha from Bihar. He is a key member of the Janata Dal , and was the founder of the Samata Party...
. There was an outcry when the scandal broke, and George Fernandes resigned although he was not accused of taking bribe. Laxman also resigned, while Jaya Jaitly accused Tehelka journalists of being Pakistani agents and raised doubts over the authenticity of the tapes. The tapes were sent to UK for forensic examination, and were confirmed as genuine.
Fernandes returned to power soon afterwards, and the inquiry set up to investigate the charges halted upon the resignation of the sitting judge, while his replacement performed an ineffectual job lacking in focus. The government turned the tables on Tehelka with an investigation into its conduct. The main financial backers of Tehelka were made targets of investigations from the customs, the police and the tax authorities. By 2003, the number of salaried employees in the company had reduced from 120 to 1, and the company was practically ruined. The meagre budget of Tehelka, then a startup media firm, was exhausted by legal expenses facing a Commission of Enquiry. According to the Editor Shoma Chaudhury
Shoma Chaudhury
Shoma Chaudhury is an Indian journalist, currently serving as the managing editor of Tehelka, a weekly news magazine published from New Delhi, India. She has been in the field of journalism for the last 15 years.-Career:...
, Tehelka decided to bow out of the new Commission of Enquiry, after Justice Venkatswami was replaced with Justice Phookan.
In 2003, Tehelka was relaunched as a weekly newspaper, funded by 200 founding subscribers and other well-wishers who each donated Rs 100,000 (more than $2,000). Rs 3.6 crore (Rs 36 million) was so raised. Its original business plan included television, radio and book publishing ventures. According to Rediff.com, the newspaper initial print run of 150,000 copies had shrunk to 30,000 within six months. An issue of Tehelka is priced at Rs 10; sales are underpinned by a subscription offer of Rs 300 a year (48 issues) and negotiating deals with credit card companies, hotels and airlines to push Tehelka among their members.
The investigations against the MoD officials were revived in 2004, when the Congress-led government came to the power and handed over the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation
Central Bureau of Investigation
The Central Bureau of Investigation is a government agency of India that serves as a criminal investigation body, national security agency and intelligence agency. It was established on 1 April 1963 and evolved from the Special Police Establishment founded in 1941...
(CBI).
In 2007, Tehelka once again underwent a transformation, and shifted to a regular magazine format. In September 2007, it came up with a Hindi news based web portal "Tehelka Hindi". In October 2007, it once again captured widespread attention for an elaborate sting operation that claimed to have captured on hidden camera several perpetrators of the 2002 Gujarat riots admitting to horrendous crimes, and revealing the riots to be part of a well-planned conspiracy that had state sanction. In october 2008 Tehelka launched its first fortnightly Hindi magazine. Right now Tehelka has four highly successful editions of its Hindi magazine - three regional editions and one national.
Operation Westend
Operation West End was a sting operationSting operation
In law enforcement, a sting operation is a deceptive operation designed to catch a person committing a crime. A typical sting will have a law-enforcement officer or cooperative member of the public play a role as criminal partner or potential victim and go along with a suspect's actions to gather...
aimed to expose the corruption underlying India's large defence contracts. The original investigative piece by Tehelka in 2001 targeted several members of the then ruling coalition, the National Democratic Alliance
National Democratic Alliance (India)
The National Democratic Alliance is a centre-right coalition of political parties in India. At the time of its formation in 1998, it was led by the Bharatiya Janata Party and had thirteen constituent parties. Its convenor is Sharad Yadav, and its honorary chairman is former prime minister Atal...
, headed by Bharatiya Janata Party
Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament...
's Atal Behari Vajpayee. It showed several political figures, as well as army top brass, colluding to take bribes that approached 4% of orders totalling hundreds of crores in order to approve defence contracts. Tehelka also accused the MoD officials of accepting alcohol and services of the prostitutes, although the journal itself was criticised for the procurement of protitutes. Indeed, in September 2001, Tehelka's editor-in-chief, Tarun Tejpal, was charged with "immoral trafficking" for offering prostitutes to the MoD officials during the sting operation.
The minister in charge of Defence
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
, George Fernandes
George Fernandes
George Mathew Fernandes is an Indian trade unionist, politician, journalist, agriculturist, and member of Rajya Sabha from Bihar. He is a key member of the Janata Dal , and was the founder of the Samata Party...
of the Samata Party
Samata Party
The Samata Party is a political party in India. Initially formed as an offshoot of the Janata Dal in 1994 by Nitish Kumar and George Fernandes. The reason given was that the Janata Dal had shifted to casteism...
, resigned after the tapes were made public, but he was reinstated later. Part of the tapes show the treasurer of his party talking about accepting bribes of 1 crore or more from arms dealer ex-Naval officer Lt-Cmdr Suresh Nanda, son of ex-Chief of Naval Staff Admiral S. M. Nanda
S. M. Nanda
Sardarilal Mathradas Nanda was an Indian Navy admiral who served as the 8th Chief of the Naval Staff from 1 March 1970 until 28 February 1973...
. However, George Fernandes was later absolved from this as even the CBI under UPA couldn't find any tangible evidence against him.
Initially the government, instead of acting on the evidence, accused Tehelka of fabricating allegations. However, five years later, in October 2006, the Central Bureau of Investigation
Central Bureau of Investigation
The Central Bureau of Investigation is a government agency of India that serves as a criminal investigation body, national security agency and intelligence agency. It was established on 1 April 1963 and evolved from the Special Police Establishment founded in 1941...
filed charges against George Fernandes, former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sushil Kumar
Sushil Kumar
Sushil Kumar may refer to:*Sushil Kumar , Indian wrestler*Sushil Kumar , former Indian Chief of Naval Staff...
, and others in the Barak missile case, claiming that there was reasonable basis to suspect corruption and criminal conspiracy. In March 2008, the Nandas were arrested. Fernandes was interrogated in May 2008.
The Truth: Gujarat 2002
The Truth: Gujarat 2002 was an extensive report on the 2002 Gujarat violence2002 Gujarat violence
The 2002 Gujarat violence describes the Godhra train burning and resulting communal riots between Hindus and Muslims. On 27 February 2002 at Godhra City in the state of Gujarat, the Sabarmati Express train was attacked by a large Muslim mob in a conspiracy. But some authentic sources deny the claim...
published in its 7 November 2007 issue, was based on a six-month long investigation and involved sting operation
Sting operation
In law enforcement, a sting operation is a deceptive operation designed to catch a person committing a crime. A typical sting will have a law-enforcement officer or cooperative member of the public play a role as criminal partner or potential victim and go along with a suspect's actions to gather...
s. It alleged that the violence was due to the connivance of the state police as well as the Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi
Narendra Modi
Narendra Damodardas Modi is the current Chief Minister of the Indian state of Gujarat.He was born in a middle class family in Vadnagar; and is a member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh since childhood, as also an active politician since early in life. He holds a masters degree in political...
. The sting operation once again led to partisan criticism and raised questions on journalistic ethics.
Jessica Lall case
Tehelka carried out a sting operation following Manu Sharma's release. This uncovered details of the witness coercion process, and alleged that money was being paid directly from Venod Sharmas offices to some of the witnesses. .[4] Venod Sharma was directly mentioned by several people, such as a friend of the (now expired) eye-witness Karan Rajput:Surendra: I saw him receiving money at Okhla.
Question: Where at Okhla?
Surendra: From Sharma's place. In front of Okhla depot there is a building. [Venod] Sharma owns entire building. We used to collect money from there itself.
Question: How much money?
Surendra: Whatever we needed.
Question: Whatever you say?
Surendra: Whatever we demand. We used to get 20-25 thousand every month just like that. His number is in mamu's ( Karan Rajput) diary.
Tehelka in media
The Tehelka exposé has been documented time and again through various media sources. Veteran Indian journalist, Madhu Trehan, has penned an entire book on the expose and its aftermath. The book, Tehelka as MetaphorTehelka as Metaphor
Tehelka as Metaphor is a 2009 nonfiction book by renowned Indian journalist, Madhu Trehan. The book is an account of the Tehelka exposé and its aftermath...
, is a forensic study of the sting operation and alleges it was retaliation by the Indian government. In 2004, Art Silverblatt and Nikolai Zlobin
Nikolai Zlobin
Nikolai Zlobin is a Russian-American political expert, journalist and scholar working from Washington, D.C. PhD in Public Administration. Author of numerous books, articles and essays on politics, history and global security. During his career worked at a number of prominent Universities and...
described Tehelka as a "muckraking site" in their book "International Communications: A Media Literacy Approach"