New Delhi, May 28: In a significant move, the Phukan Commission today directed sending of 16 sealed Tehelka tapes containing allegation of corruption in defence deals to London for forensic examination to verify whether the videotapes were tampered with or whether they were camera originals or not. Refusing to identify the expert keeping in view the security and other aspects, Justice S N Phukan said the expert may be requested to intimate the date of submission of the report as well as his presence for evidence, at least ten days in advance so that all the cross-examination notices could be notified for the purpose.
The commission after perusing the responses filed by the notices as also the submissions filed by the government decided that the tapes would be sent to London for forensic examination, Justice Phukan said.
Directing the government to issue necessary instructions to the security and other authorities for providing adequate security to the sealed box containing the tapes and also to the commission's officer carrying the same to London, he said a sealed packet carrying notes by various cross-examination notices marking the disputed portions in tapes among other items will be sent for the expert's opinion. Bureau Report