New Delhi, June 27
Tehelka Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tarun Tejpal today told the Venkataswami Commission that the motive behind the Operation Westend was “purely journalistic” to expose corruption in high places and categorically denied any tampering with the video tapes.

“The (Westend Operation) exercise was purely journalistic to expose corruption in highest places in the system. It was not against any political party or individual,” Tejpal said, appearing for the first time before the commission.

About the allegations of tampering with video tapes, Tejpal said “there might be glitches due to nature of recording but there is not even a bit of tampering.”

Denying that the “Westend” operation was a “trap adventure” and not investigative journalism, the Tehelka chief said he did not have to consult any legal person before taking up any journalistic exercise.

The Tehelka CEO also denied affiliation with any political party and refuted the suggestion that he undertook the sting operation for any commercial gains or to defame any individual.

He dismissed the charges of Defence Minister George Fernandes that the Tehelka helped the ISI through the operation and said it was “standard practice” to blame foreign hand.

Tejpal said he expected this kind of sting operation to help in cleaning up of the system. “Rather the counter offensive by the Government has missed out on both the two crucial points of corruption in arms procurement and reform in political funding,” he said.

He said it would have been good if the establishment had inquired through a proper system into allegations of the Tehelka.

Tejpal said he was not personally involved in the sting operation and was given periodic report by the Investigative Cell chief Anirudha Bahal.

The sting operation idea was mooted by Anirudha Bahal in the wake of past incidents such as the Bofors scam and alleged irregularities in purchases during the Kargil war, he said.