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The Venkataswami Commission, which is probing allegations levelled in the tehelka.com tapes, issued notices to former defence minister George Fernandes, National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra and six others to appear before the commission and give their version of the allegations made against them.
Briefing newsmen after a one-hour public hearing, Justice K Venkataswami said that he thought it fit to give an opportunity to the eight persons whose name appears during the tehelka tapes. He said there are no specific charges against them.
Asked if these eight persons (Fernandes, Mishra, Haren Pathak, K Srinivasprasad, Yogendra Narain, defence secretary, Major General Shankar Prasad, V P Goel and Suresh Nanda, head of Crown Corporation) would present their cases before him, Justice Vekataswami said that he has given them an opportunity and it is for them to make use it.
"Since their names appear during the course of the Tehelka tapes, therefore, I thought that the commission should given them an opportunity to clear the air. It is up to them to appear and say what they have to say," Justice Venkataswami told newsmen outside his office in the Vigyan Bhavan annexe.
Attorney General Soli Sorabjee, who appeared before the commission said that the importance of the commission cannot be overemphasised. "It has been constituted by the Government of India not as an act of political expediency. It reflects the resolve of the government to address and redress the various issues which have surfaced consequent upon the screening of the Tehelka tapes," he said.
He assured all assistance to the commission, "Except in those cases where the imperatives of national security and national interest necessitate a claim for privilege made in accordance with law, nothing will be withheld from the commission," he said in his brief speech before the commission.
The commission has fixed July 2 as the next date of the hearing.
When asked if he would be able to complete the probe before July 24 deadline, he said, "You see I am doing my best to meet the deadline. No one can say that the delay is because of me," he said.
He also fixed June 11 for the public screening of the tehelka tapes for those who want to see it.
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