Army officials facing departmental inquiry in matters pertaining to Tehelka expose on Tuesday questioned the validity of the additional inquiry being conducted against them by the Justice Venkataswami Commission. "Why this step-brotherly treatment with Army officers. When all other public servants, who are accused, are made to undergo one commission of inquiry then why Army officers, who are already facing a departmental inquiry, should be made to undergo the ordeal twice," R P Sharma, counsel for Anil Sehgal, one of the accused Army officer, told the commission.

Requesting that the commission recommend to the Central government that Army officers should be excluded from one of the inquiries, Sharma also sought protection under Section 20(3) which states that no person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.

Justice Venkataswami Commission has reserved his order on the issue till Friday. He would also decide that whether he would pass any recommendation to the Centre on the issue. Bureau Report