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Govt rejects Phukan Commission report

New Delhi, May 13
The Government today rejected the report of the Phukan Commission, which probed the Tehelka expose into fictitious defence deals, on the ground that it was "incomplete".

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee tabled a copy of the part report of the Commission in the Lok Sabha.

An official spokesperson said even the report on the two terms of reference were only on "procedural matters". ”The cases relating to the expose have been referred by the government to the CBI for a probe,” the spokesperson added.

The Tehelka tape pay-offs episode broke out on March 13-14, 2001, and the-then government had appointed Venkataswami Commission to probe it on March 24 to give its findings within four months.

The Commission was given an extension up to October 3, 2004, and, in the meantime, Justice Venkataswami resigned on November 25, 2002.

Justice Phukan was appointed on January 2, 2003, as Chairman of the Commission, which was wound up on October 3, 2004.

The Commission had 247 sittings. — PTI