Tehelka, journalist Tarun Tejpal have to pay Rs 2 cr as damages for defaming Army officer: Delhi HC

In a defamation case, the Delhi High Court has ordered journalists Tarun Tejpal, Anirudh Behl, Mathew Samual, and M/S Tehelka.Com to pay Rs 2 million as damages to Major General MS Ahluwalia, a retired Indian Army officer. Ahluwalia was allegedly involved in corruption in defense deals, according to the 2001 Operation Tehelka.

A bench presided over by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna found that the plaintiff's reputation was damaged because he not only saw his award in the eyes of public decay but also because his character was tarnished by serious allegations of corruption which no subsequent reputation could repair or remedy. The plaintiff has already lived with bad fame for more than 23 years, the court also noted, noting that a considerable amount of time had passed. The apology is not only insufficient at this point but also unnecessary due to the seriousness of the defamation.

According to the lawsuit, Tarun Tejpal, the owner of the Tehelka.Com portal, was in charge of supervising the publication of news and articles on the Tehelka.Com website.

On March 13, 2001, a media attack was launched promoting a narrative of alleged corruption in defense negotiations involving the importation of new defense equipment.

According to the lawsuit, the article was written and uploaded by two reporters who allegedly worked undercover and posed as representatives of a fictitious London-based defense equipment company that was eager to introduce new defense equipment to the Indian Army. Ahluwalia sought Rs. 10 lacks in addition to a bottle of Blue Label whiskey as a bribe, according to the story. He further alleged that the officer accepted a token bribe of Rs. 50,000. The plaintiff/major general claimed through legal proceedings that this was done deliberately without first knowing the full truth.

To the defendant's knowledge, the allegations were false and were made with the specific purpose of tarnishing the plaintiff's character and public image. In fact, the supposed tape of the interview between the reporter and the plaintiff was altered, edited, and edited to manipulate the audio. Selected passages have been removed and editorial comments have been added that lack factual support.

The aired video clip was taken seriously by the Indian Army, who then sought a court of inquiry into the matter. The lawsuit alleged that the plaintiff's military reputation and honor were damaged and impugned after he was called to testify at the court of inquiry.