CBI files case against Tehelka under OSA

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a complaint against two Tehelka reporters, including its editor (investigations) Anirudh Bahal, two officials of the home ministry and buffalo networks, which owned the website, in an Official Secrets Act case.
The CBI filed the complaint against Bahal, Mathew Samuel, director in home ministry Thomas Mathew and section officer Neeraj Kumar in the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court recently, who after taking its cognizance, posted the matter for hearing on August 25.
According to the CBI complaint, Kumar, Mathew, Bahal and Samuel allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy to obtain secret documents, which were exhibited on tehelka.com on October 9, 2000.
The CBI said the joint secretary in home ministry had ordered an inquiry by the Intelligence Bureau after the website had put out a story, ‘‘Are Dutch Innocent’’, which contained information allegedly obtained from a secret file bearing number 11011/40/99 ‘‘Dutch Interest in India’s Fringe Politics’’.
Investigations disclosed that on October 9, minutes of the meeting regarding the Dutch file appeared almost verbatim on the portal which contained other details as well. The then Dutch ambassdor Peter Loch had protested to joint secretary (East West) in the external affairs ministry prompting a thorough inquiry.
The Intelligence Bureau had then submitted its report to the joint secretary in home ministry, R K Pillai, pointing fingers at Neeraj Kumar and Thomas Mathew, the CBI complaint said.