M A I N   N E W S

Two Haryana officers figure in transcripts
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 14
Any major scandal breaking in Delhi somehow finds a connection with Haryana, which surrounds the Capital from three sides. Be it match-fixing in cricket or the recent “tehelka”.

The tehelka.com expose, too, has a Haryana connection. The names of at least two IAS officers of the Haryana cadre figure in the transcripts of the secret recording done by the portal to expose the practice of bribes in defence deals.

While the portal has squarely indicted the 1968-batch IAS officer, Mr L. M. Mehta, for allegedly accepting illegal gratification, the name of another IAS officer of the 1972-batch, Mr Ranjit Issar, figures during talks with two officers.

Mr Mehta is the Additional Defence Secretary. Mr Issar is the Joint Secretary, Ordnance Procurement, Ministry of Defence.

The portal has alleged that Mr Mehta was given a gold chain and Rs 50,000, though he had asked for Rs 2 lakh for providing an evaluation letter for the products of the fictitious company floated by tehelka.com.

Mr Issar’s name figures first during the talks between Major General Murgai and the portal representatives.