'Major General Ahluwalia Never Accepted Any Bribery': Tarun Tejpal Ready To Publish Unconditional Apology In National English Newspaper

Six months after being asked by the Delhi High Court to pay Rs 2 crore in damages to retired Indian Army official Major General MS Ahluwalia in a defamation case, Tarun Tejpal is ready to publish an unconditional apology.

Live Law reported on Friday (12 January), that the former editor-in-chief of Tehelka magazine has pledged to publish an unconditional apology in a national English newspaper that former Major General Ahluwalia never accepted any bribery.

In an appeal against the July 2023 order of the single judge, Tejpal and Tehelka’s co-founder Aniruddha Bahal gave the undertaking before a division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan.

Ahluwalia had filed the defamation case in 2002 after Tehelka magazine carried a story in March 2001 and accused him of taking bribes in defence deals in its sting operation named Operation West End.

MS Ahluwalia had denied the allegations made by Tehelka, and said that when Tehelka did the sting, he was not involved in any post related to selection or purchase of imported weapons.

The single had observed while rejecting review plea that Ahluwalia’s reputation had suffered as he not only faced lowering of esteem in the eyes of the public but his character also got maligned with serious allegations of corruption.

While, Tejpal and Bahal told the court that they will be depositing Rs 10 lakhs each, the court has listed the appeal for hearing and disposal in April on the issue of quantum of damages to be awarded.