Bangaru Laxman faces Tehelka heat

NEW DELHI: The personal secretary of former BJP president Bangaru Laxman is likely to turn approver in the Tehelka case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is likely to get Satyamurthy, an accused in the case along with Bangaru Laxman, to record his statement before a magistrate over, Rs 1 lakh that was taken by the former BJP president from a Tehelka team posing as arms suppliers for a defence deal.

Satyamurthy, who has expressed his willingness to record a confessional statement, is likely to divulge how back-dated entries were made in the BJP’s account books to show the Rs 1 lakh.

The former BJP president has claimed throughout that the money was meant for party funds. Even to the CBI he has maintained that the money was meant for party funds.

The CBI had registered the case on December 6, ‘04 against Bangaru Laxman, his secretary Venkatesh Raju and Satyamurthy after a Tehelka sting operation under Section 120-B (conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The operation showed footage of Laxman accepting Rs 1 lakh allegedly as bribe from the Tehelka team posing as arms suppliers. The CBI accused Satyamurthy of receiving a gold chain from the Tehelka team and also attempting to get more payments. Along with this case, the CBI in ‘04 had registered four other cases related to the Tehelka sting operation.