284:
The government booked
Tehelka under many sections and used Inland Revenue, Enforcement Directorate and Intelligence Bureau but could not find anything. Investors of the website were also investigated and Tehelka’s financer Shanker Sharma was imprisoned without any charge. The journalists who carried
280:
were alleged to be the three most powerful arms dealers or agents in the country. Other named in the allegations as alledly smaller arms dealers were
Mohinder Singh Sahani and R.K. Gupta. These individuals were later investigated due to the allegations and claims made against them in Operation West
317:
were supplied to three defence officials. Both
Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and Samata Party condemned it and raised the questions on ethical side of investigative journalism. However, Aniruddh Bahal, the journalist who was a part of the operation said, “When the demand came from armymen (to have
107:
and other equipment that the company might be interested in supplying to the Indian Army. After accepting the money he also advised on how to proceed in the matter of bidding for the hand-held thermal cameras. During the conversation, Brigadier Sehgal said that the company would have to pay to
166:
On
December 23, 2000, journalists posing as representatives of the arms manufacturing company held their first meeting with the then BJP chief Bangaru Laxman. They then met him several times over the period of one week and promised to compensate him for his recommendation to the
255:
On March 13, 2001, Tehelka released video CDs of the sting operation that led to political storm in India. Bangaru Laxman had to resign from the position of BJP president. It emerged that the defence deals were not driven by considerations of national security, but by the
318:
prostitutes) we were foxed. We resisted it. We were baffled. But the demand was so forceful we could not proceed further without catering to their demand.” They decided to provide prostitutes to show that officials were ready to go to any level.
127:
R. K. Gupta. Deepak Gupta assured that he would help the UK based company bag the project and talked about his influence in the government. In the subsequent meetings he elaborated on his functioning and said that he worked from the
88:. After getting some monetary incentive, P. Sashi Menon took the team to Brigadier Anil Sehgal’s house in New Delhi. Sehgal was then the Deputy Director in Directorate General of Ordnance and Supply (DGOS) in the
267:
In
Operation West End, individuals captured in the sting operation made claims and accusations regarding the identities of the most power arms dealers or agents in India. Among those named in the allegations,
537:
99:
Brigadier Sehgal demanded to be entertained in a five-star hotel to which the team agreed. He also brought in Lt. Colonel Sharma, who was an army officer posted in procurement section of the
699:
49:. Over a seven-and-half-month investigation, special correspondents of the magazine filmed several corrupt defence officials and politicians of NDA government, including the BJP President
478:
607:
637:
81:
company called 'West End
International'. Investigative journalists from the magazine would get in touch with junior officers of the Indian defence establishment and move upwards.
573:
151:. He assured the team that he will get their work done and will pay the bribes on their behalf to the Defence Secretary, Joint Secretary, Under Secretary, BJP treasurer
57:. During Operation West End, individuals filmed in the sting operation made allegations and claims of who the most powerful arms dealers or agents in India were.
516:
533:
260:
of political and bureaucratic people. The defence minister George
Fernandes was forced to resign. Jaya Jaitly resigned as president of the Samta party.
418:
696:
475:
175:
rupees at the BJP’s office for pursuing their proposal. On
January 7, 2001, the final meeting held between the fake representatives and Laxman.
661:
591:
629:
103:. procurement section. After the meeting, Brigadier Sehgal demanded Rs. 200,000 to give documents related to the procurement of hand-held
96:
team with information about the defence products being but the army and instructions on how to proceed in order to sell their products.
196:
Lt. Colonel (Retd.) Sayal, former officer in the
Directorate General of Ordnance and Supply (DGOS) and a defence middleman – Rs. 80,000.
680:
147:
and said that both of them were tenants at his properties. He had also helped establish the RSS headquarters in 1967 in
Jhandewala,
358:
386:
748:
570:
558:
456:
437:
301:
charges. On April 28, 2012, the court sentenced him to four year of rigorous imprisonment and also imposed a fine of one lakh
352:
721:
497:
240:
Major General Choudary, Additional Director General, Weapons and Equipment (ADE, W.E.) – Rs. 1,00,000 and a gold chain.
129:
758:
534:"CBI court appreciates Haryana ex-IAS officer's evidence in case that saw a retired Major General getting 3-yr jail"
513:
294:
743:
42:
199:
Major General (Retd.) S. P. Murgai, retired Additional Director General, Quality Assurance – Rs. 1,40,000.
415:
168:
136:
120:
85:
753:
187:
P. Sashi Menon, Senior Section Officer, Directorate General of Ordnance and Supply (DGOS) – Rs. 52,000.
139:
trustee and a big defence middleman. He was quite vocal about his relationship with the Prime Minister
658:
190:
Brigadier Anil Sehgal, Director, Directorate General of Ordnance and Supply (DGOS) – Rs. 40,000.
763:
38:
677:
298:
140:
104:
46:
313:
The investigation into the sting operation took a dramatic turn when it was revealed that
8:
342:
394:
144:
84:
The operation started with Senior Section Officer P. Sashi Menon who was posted in the
78:
599:
348:
152:
69:
faced allegations and claims of being the three most powerful arms dealers in India.
453:
434:
171:
on the supply of hand-held thermal imagers. On January 1, 2001, Laxman accepted one
112:. P. Sashi Menon also provided confidential documents related to the procurement of
273:
216:
109:
100:
62:
725:
703:
684:
665:
577:
520:
501:
482:
460:
441:
422:
261:
25:
225:
156:
50:
718:
494:
737:
603:
29:
302:
277:
269:
66:
58:
193:
Brigadier Iqbal Singh, Prospective Procurement Officer (PPO) – Rs. 50,000.
92:, an important army procurement post. Sashi Menon and Sehgal provided the
314:
212:
208:
119:
On 26 November 2000, the team was introduced to Deepak Gupta, the son of
89:
108:
everyone and some percentage would also reach the then Defence Minister
113:
54:
124:
33:
16:
2001 exposé of Indian governmental corruption by Tehelka magazine
205:
H. C. Pant, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Defence – Rs. 60,000.
257:
160:
155:, and president Bangaru Laxman. He did not wanted to involve
148:
297:
court convicted the former BJP President, Bangaru Laxman of
237:
Surendra Sulekha, industrialist from Kanpur – Rs. 1,00,000.
172:
264:, an important ally of the coalition quit the government.
234:
Raju Venkatesh, secretary to Bangaru Laxman – Rs. 10,000.
231:
Sathyamurthi, secretary to Bangaru Laxman – A gold chain.
697:
Bangaru Laxman sentenced to 4-year rigorous imprisonment
228:, president of Bharatiya Janata Party – Rs. 1,00,000.
476:
Tehelka sting: How Bangaru Laxman fell for the trap
344:
Prism Me a Lie Tell Me A Truth: Tehelka as Metaphor
222:
R. K. Jain, treasurer of Samta Party – Rs. 50,000.
735:
719:Tehelka expose: Armymen bribed with prostitutes
77:The magazine created a fictitious London-based
659:Website pays price for Indian bribery expose
285:out the investigation were also imprisoned.
592:"Arms-dealer with Congress link in CBI net"
495:Operation West End: The Bangaru Laxman Tape
714:
712:
552:
37:to expose defence deals conducted by the
678:Bangaru Laxman convicted of taking bribe
384:
736:
709:
690:
640:from the original on 25 September 2024
610:from the original on 11 September 2021
361:from the original on 18 September 2024
340:
183:The bribes paid during the operation:
671:
589:
580:, March 16, 2001, The New York Times.
514:Bribes Paid During Operation West End
471:
469:
380:
378:
376:
336:
334:
332:
330:
288:
630:"CBI conducts raids on arms dealers"
454:Page 5, Tehelka's Operation West End
564:
135:The team then met R. K. Gupta, the
116:, tubes, clothing and helicopters.
13:
652:
507:
466:
447:
428:
409:
385:Bahal, Aniruddha; Samuel, Mathew.
373:
327:
72:
53:, accepting bribes and discussing
14:
775:
571:The Sting That Has India Writhing
540:from the original on 24 June 2022
488:
668:, January 6, 2003, The Guardian.
215:and partner of Defence Minister
622:
583:
526:
485:, April 27, 2012, India Today.
341:Trehan, Madhu (6 April 2011).
308:
178:
1:
749:Political corruption in India
321:
293:On April 27, 2012, a special
706:, April 28, 2012, The Hindu.
687:, April 28, 2012, The Hindu.
590:Mohan, Vishwa (6 May 2007).
561:, March 20, 2001, The Hindu.
435:Tehelka's Operation West End
416:Tehelka's Operation West End
393:. p. 36. Archived from
250:
159:as his price was rupees one
28:conducted in 2001 by Indian
7:
202:Narendra Singh – Rs. 10,000
121:Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
10:
780:
728:, August 22, 2001, Rediff.
523:, March 24, 2001, Outlook.
504:, April 27, 2012, YouTube.
463:, March 24, 2001, Outlook.
444:, March 24, 2001, Outlook.
425:, March 24, 2001, Outlook.
347:. New Delhi: Roli Books.
759:Investigative journalism
459:23 December 2014 at the
440:23 December 2014 at the
702:24 January 2013 at the
664:3 December 2013 at the
481:14 October 2013 at the
130:Prime Minister's Office
576:15 August 2017 at the
246:Raghupati – Rs. 16,000
39:Bharatiya Janata Party
536:. 14 September 2019.
724:2 April 2015 at the
519:2 April 2015 at the
500:25 July 2014 at the
421:2 April 2015 at the
387:"Operation West End"
141:Atal Bihari Vajpayee
47:Atal Bihari Vajpayee
744:Corruption in India
636:. 10 October 2006.
86:Ministry of Defence
683:1 May 2012 at the
596:The Times of India
559:Operation West End
289:Judgement by court
243:Suresh – Rs. 7,000
145:Lal Krishna Advani
79:arms manufacturing
22:Operation West End
754:Scandals in India
354:978-81-7436-950-5
153:Ved Prakash Goyal
771:
729:
716:
707:
694:
688:
675:
669:
656:
650:
649:
647:
645:
626:
620:
619:
617:
615:
587:
581:
568:
562:
556:
550:
549:
547:
545:
530:
524:
511:
505:
492:
486:
473:
464:
451:
445:
432:
426:
413:
407:
406:
404:
402:
397:on 31 March 2001
382:
371:
370:
368:
366:
338:
274:Sudhir Choudhrie
217:George Fernandes
169:Defence Ministry
110:George Fernandes
101:Indian Air Force
63:Sudhir Choudhrie
779:
778:
774:
773:
772:
770:
769:
768:
734:
733:
732:
726:Wayback Machine
717:
710:
704:Wayback Machine
695:
691:
685:Wayback Machine
676:
672:
666:Wayback Machine
657:
653:
643:
641:
634:Hindustan Times
628:
627:
623:
613:
611:
588:
584:
578:Wayback Machine
569:
565:
557:
553:
543:
541:
532:
531:
527:
521:Wayback Machine
512:
508:
502:Wayback Machine
493:
489:
483:Wayback Machine
474:
467:
461:Wayback Machine
452:
448:
442:Wayback Machine
433:
429:
423:Wayback Machine
414:
410:
400:
398:
383:
374:
364:
362:
355:
339:
328:
324:
311:
291:
262:Mamata Banerjee
253:
211:, president of
181:
105:thermal cameras
75:
73:Sting operation
26:sting operation
17:
12:
11:
5:
777:
767:
766:
761:
756:
751:
746:
731:
730:
708:
689:
670:
651:
621:
582:
563:
551:
525:
506:
487:
465:
446:
427:
408:
372:
353:
325:
323:
320:
310:
307:
290:
287:
252:
249:
248:
247:
244:
241:
238:
235:
232:
229:
226:Bangaru Laxman
223:
220:
219:– Rs. 2,00,000
206:
203:
200:
197:
194:
191:
188:
180:
177:
157:Brajesh Mishra
74:
71:
51:Bangaru Laxman
45:government of
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
776:
765:
764:2001 in India
762:
760:
757:
755:
752:
750:
747:
745:
742:
741:
739:
727:
723:
720:
715:
713:
705:
701:
698:
693:
686:
682:
679:
674:
667:
663:
660:
655:
639:
635:
631:
625:
609:
605:
601:
597:
593:
586:
579:
575:
572:
567:
560:
555:
539:
535:
529:
522:
518:
515:
510:
503:
499:
496:
491:
484:
480:
477:
472:
470:
462:
458:
455:
450:
443:
439:
436:
431:
424:
420:
417:
412:
396:
392:
388:
381:
379:
377:
360:
356:
350:
346:
345:
337:
335:
333:
331:
326:
319:
316:
306:
304:
300:
296:
286:
282:
279:
275:
271:
265:
263:
259:
245:
242:
239:
236:
233:
230:
227:
224:
221:
218:
214:
210:
207:
204:
201:
198:
195:
192:
189:
186:
185:
184:
176:
174:
170:
164:
162:
158:
154:
150:
146:
142:
138:
133:
131:
126:
122:
117:
115:
111:
106:
102:
97:
95:
91:
87:
82:
80:
70:
68:
64:
60:
56:
52:
48:
44:
40:
36:
35:
31:
30:news magazine
27:
23:
19:
692:
673:
654:
644:24 September
642:. Retrieved
633:
624:
614:23 September
612:. Retrieved
595:
585:
566:
554:
544:23 September
542:. Retrieved
528:
509:
490:
449:
430:
411:
401:24 September
399:. Retrieved
395:the original
390:
365:24 September
363:. Retrieved
343:
312:
292:
283:
278:Suresh Nanda
270:Vipin Khanna
266:
254:
182:
165:
134:
118:
98:
93:
83:
76:
67:Suresh Nanda
59:Vipin Khanna
32:
21:
20:
18:
315:prostitutes
309:Controversy
213:Samta Party
209:Jaya Jaitly
179:Bribes paid
90:Indian Army
738:Categories
322:References
299:corruption
114:ammunition
41:(BJP)-led
604:0971-8257
251:Aftermath
55:kickbacks
722:Archived
700:Archived
681:Archived
662:Archived
638:Archived
608:Archived
574:Archived
538:Archived
517:Archived
498:Archived
479:Archived
457:Archived
438:Archived
419:Archived
359:Archived
391:Tehelka
132:(PMO).
125:trustee
94:Tehelka
34:Tehelka
602:
351:
303:rupees
276:, and
123:(RSS)
24:was a
281:End.
258:greed
161:crore
149:Delhi
646:2024
616:2024
600:ISSN
546:2024
403:2024
367:2024
349:ISBN
173:lakh
143:and
65:and
295:CBI
137:RSS
43:NDA
740::
711:^
632:.
606:.
598:.
594:.
468:^
389:.
375:^
357:.
329:^
305:.
272:,
163:.
61:,
648:.
618:.
548:.
405:.
369:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.