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'No one has taken us to court'

New Delhi, March 19, 2001, 20:00 hours IST: Aniruddha Bahal was on the dot of time, and though the Chat began on a slow note, it was a huge success.

Aniruddha Bahal : hi this is aniruddha


nilesh : aren't u having any death threats.
Aniruddha Bahal : none so far. touch wood


bhalla : tell me, were u scared at any point?
Aniruddha Bahal : no. stressed yes


bhalla : and is it true that mathew is in hiding?
Aniruddha Bahal : not at all. he is in delhi. not in hiding


asdf : Hi there? That was a great job done? But do you thing anything will come of it? So many scams have been unearthed and life goes on?
Aniruddha Bahal : whether anything comes out of it or not we stand by r story


sam : Ani, people in glass houses should not throw stones. How clean is tehelka? Who funds u guys? u have no ads, so where is the money coming from?
Aniruddha Bahal : we have venture funding. our 1st round investors were First Global. our funding is in the same pattern as thousands of other dotcoms.


bhalla : do you feel depressed about the fact that people are already losing interest?
Aniruddha Bahal : i think our duty was just to push the information we had in the public domain. the politics of it doesn't interest us


kasivijay : GREAT WORK!!!!!!! i feel this is probably the best by any journalist ta,kin so much risk!!!
Aniruddha Bahal : thanks for the compliment


jamesbond : 007 here: I say great show, 006, who are you guys up against next?
Aniruddha Bahal : we will tell u when the time comes


kasivijay : SO wat provoked tehelka do this probe???
Aniruddha Bahal : our media impulse


bhalla : i don't understand that? how can you not be interested in whether your information has finally awakened the sleeping indian public?
Aniruddha Bahal : if r story jolts the indian public well and good. i think we may have succeeded in holding up a mirror to the indian populace


Vishalvenkatram : Why are u planning to offload a stake to Zee?Is this a political motive?
Aniruddha Bahal : we r in an advanced stage with zee for our 2nd round funding. there was no political motive. we were simply pursuing a story


hath : Bahal, Tejpal has said there are no more Tehelka tapes. Has he chickened out, in fear of consequences?
Aniruddha Bahal : we have nearly 100 hours of footage. we might give the same to the investigators to pursue


praveen : YOur action has brought disrepute to India.For the sake of publicity,you have not hesitated to tarnish India's reputation.Why dont you stick a secret camera in Capitol hill?I am sure there will be murky deels going on there too.
Aniruddha Bahal : u r the first person i am hearing who says that it brought disrepute to india. i think it has brought a sense of empowerment to the people.


santanu : who do you think the most greedy you met durring the "mission west end"?
Aniruddha Bahal : all were equally greedy. but maybe sashi took the cake


hath : Bahal, why dont you put the videos for free on the web, so that it properly exposes anyone. Dont you think the sting willl be more then?
Aniruddha Bahal : bandwith problems r huge


sunirman : wht do you have to say about the safety of journalists when they are involved in such risky endeavours
Aniruddha Bahal : take the name of God


ramnaam : Praveen do not be silly - this kind of journalism shows that we are no tin pot state- it is something to be proud of
Aniruddha Bahal : thanks


rg : u brought out the tapes. good. but w/o bringing out any detailed in-depth analysis of it from u guys, i think it was meant just for publicity. what do u say?
Aniruddha Bahal : i am working on a book


srini : bahal ALIVE??
Aniruddha Bahal : yes i am and answering your questions


praveen : Honestly,do you think deals anywhere in the world are clean?If people like you plant secret cameras in corridors of power all over the world,it will be a disaster.Corruption is a universal truth
Aniruddha Bahal : that doesn't mean we don't do anything about it


rahul : Indeed, you guys have done a great job !! Nobody had the gutsto do it before. But, there is a question? How do we believe that you are not politically motivated and fundedto do such a thing to destabilize the goverment ?
Aniruddha Bahal : we r journalists of long standing. pls don't impute motives to r story


Punnam : Congrats bahal, I read your article in tehelka just now...and you are right about people commenting about the ethics of journalism...
Aniruddha Bahal : thanks for reading the article


as : hey..do u have any jobs in your firm ?? :)
Aniruddha Bahal : send your cv in


ramnaam : BUT YOU GUYS HAVE A CRAP WEBSITE YAAR- LOOKS LIKE THE DOG SHAT ALL OVER IT- CANT YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?
Aniruddha Bahal : we will try to improve r design


MajorDomo : Fernandes says out-of-favor middlemen basically tried to create the impression that there is a lot of corruption. Fernandes asserts that there is almost no corruption in defennce deals. Comments?
Aniruddha Bahal : all bunkum


sridhar : R u opening CORRUPTION Fighting FUND FOR JOURNALIST.. Govt shud make it 100% tax free ;-) ;-)
Aniruddha Bahal : that's a good idea. please lobby with the finance ministry


srini : BAHAL you are EVADING an direct answer between the conflicting statements between you and MATHEW, is there something to hide from the people??
Aniruddha Bahal : nothing to hide.


hath : A BAHAL, please put the videos for free viewing on the WEBSITE!! If not, please give reasons why you are not doing so!!!
Aniruddha Bahal : bandwith problems


subhash : From what I know of ZEE, it is promoted by a very politically motivated group. Offloading your stake in there, won't it affect Tehelka's functioning?
Aniruddha Bahal : not at all. they r nowhere near controlling stake


jyoti : hi there aniruddha,my heartiest congratulations for managing to do such a wonderfull job.hats off to both of u.i guess this was something that was badly needed.most of us indians in states were shocked at the level of corruption prevalent but then i think someone needs to actually demonstrate this.so hats off to u.i think wehave finally managed to nail them!
Aniruddha Bahal : thanks. i think the visuals did all the trick


JoMan : Is it legal to do what you did ? Can there be a court case against you ??
Aniruddha Bahal : u wud have to ask a lawyer that


ramnaam : WHY DID THAT GUY IN THE SOUTH HAVE TO SHOUT HIS MOUTH OFF - FOLKS MIGHT RAM HIS CREDIBILITY
Aniruddha Bahal : he didn't ram his mouth off. it was just that he said certain things that were out of context and not part of the main investigation


manju : I believe it would turn out to be one more Prabhakar's case : trying to frame someone else to hide something else .What is your opinion ?
Aniruddha Bahal : we never framed anyone. we stand entirely by our matchfixing story. u might be interested to know that not one person has taken us to court


kameshten : Your Next JOb should be to find expose the nexus betewwn Dawood and Filmi politics
Aniruddha Bahal : we will keep it in mind


hath : Bahal, send a mole to Dawood, expose all his dealings, then bomb him at his palace in Karachi. I will personally make a temple in tehelka's name in my hometown, you will be the presiding deity.
Aniruddha Bahal : when i am feeling like committing suicide i will do that


anand : dont u think urs is yellow jounalism,trying to sensationalise and make a fast buck
Aniruddha Bahal : cameras don't lie


ramnaam : BAHAL IF THERE WAS AN ELECTION TOMORROW WOULD YOU SERIOUSLY GO TO VOTE???
Aniruddha Bahal : i always vote for parliamentary elections


Manick : Hey aniruddha... HOW WERE YOU GUYS FUNDED FOR THIS EFFORT?
Aniruddha Bahal : venture funding by first global


rg : of course u r working on a book - that will fetch more moolah and some more sensationalism. the point is, the tapes were just meant to be sensationalism. they should have been only a sensational supplement to a report if u were really serious and honest.
Aniruddha Bahal : our last book fallen heroes had a loss


KrazyKorrrupt : How can you resist the thrill of Black Label is what I want to know.
Aniruddha Bahal : i hate whisky


sivan : Bahal , Do you guys have any Political Connections and also what are your comments on the reports that your Partner Samuel has connections with the Congress.
Aniruddha Bahal : samuel has no connects with the congress currently


MajorDomo : Does tehelka have Chinese connections?
Aniruddha Bahal : well, i once had a girlfriend living in hong kong


manju : but still you could just tarnish the image Kapil Dev,I think you guys very well know punishing innocent is worse than not punishing the guilty.
Aniruddha Bahal : if our investigation brings out certain facts then so be it


srinath : Aniruddha:How do you think a Congress Govt. might have fared in front of your hidden cameras? Conjecture, yes, but please be forthcoming (like asking a cat to drink milk ? ;-) )
Aniruddha Bahal : i think the results might have been the same


ShivRaj : These people are now trying to give this a Congress V/s NDA colour. What do you say. Tell did any of your investigations have a political leanings ?
Aniruddha Bahal : we never thought about the politics of it


ramnaam : WHY DOESN'T TARUN SHAVE?? HE LOOKS SO 70'S MAN
Aniruddha Bahal : i will convey your request


Neeraj : Hey Anirudha!,You have done this for political gain or for the sake of country. Your objective is still not clear
Aniruddha Bahal : our objective from the start was to do a good story


srinath : I think this was a better concerted and more professional effort from Tehelka than the match-fixing expose. Agree?
Aniruddha Bahal : maybe. it was certainly more complicated to do.


kameshten : Is it real that IB was questioning you and u guys still managed
Aniruddha Bahal : yes


lakshmish : Why was congress leader PR dasmunshi invited to your press conference. Does it nor show that you did the entire thing at the behest of congress?
Aniruddha Bahal : munshi is the chief whip of the congress party and their spokeperson. why should v stop him if he comes to watch the film. it was a media screening plus an eminent person screening


manju : Well i guess you should have solid-proof as Indian Express had in Bofors Scandle(not the non-provable videos , ofcourse)
Aniruddha Bahal : i think i haven't met any lawyer who has said that the tapes weren't evidence


Ravi Balike : , Don't you think this was a very bad idea to open up the scandal when India was trying to march ahead both in economy and stabilty.. Do you think India can afford another election. India under Vajpayee was really doing well. What is your answer for this?
Aniruddha Bahal : as i said earlier we have just held up a mirror for all indians. if the picture is ugly dont blame me for it


Manick : ANIRUDDHA..ARE YOU SYMPATHISERS OF ANY POLITICAL PARTIES..I KNOW I WILL NOT GET AN ANSWER TO THIS.
Aniruddha Bahal : we r journalists not politicians


MajorDomo : Did you try to contact the Prime Minister before releasing the tapes?
Aniruddha Bahal : no


GirishSB : HAY ... YOU PEOPLE ONCE SAID YOU HAVE SOME THING ON CONGRESS.... NOW YOU SAY THATS ALL NO MORE TAPES...!!! DID YOU PEOPLE STUCK SOME DEAL WITH CONGRESS???
Aniruddha Bahal : we have nothing on the congress


NArvind : Aniruddha - they are clear evidence against the officers involved. In case of Jaya Jaitley, you guys are finished. She will win the case against you. Seems to me that GeorgeF resigned only to quieten things down before the elections. Going purely by your tapes, they seem clean.
Aniruddha Bahal : is it? u seem to have worked out the case already.


GirishSB : HAY ... YOU PEOPLE ONCE SAID YOU HAVE SOME THING ON CONGRESS.... NOW YOU SAY THATS ALL NO MORE TAPES...!!! DID YOU PEOPLE STUCK SOME DEAL WITH CONGRESS???
Aniruddha Bahal : we struck no deal with the congress. it just so happens that the BJP is the ruling party. the congress should thank itself that tehelka wasn't around in 1987


MajorDomo : The right-wing in India can get really hurt if it tolerates actions like yours good-spiritedly. From now on your site wil be under constant surveillance and any kind of anti-national connection you have will be caught.
Aniruddha Bahal : i think the right wing should see it as an opportunity for using the broom


rajan : Jaya had told that your video were manipulated. that is one time she is very serious and immediately she laughed. And she said that ther is no need for her to laugh that time.
Aniruddha Bahal : no video was manipulated


tanmay : a bahal from where have u taken trainin for journalism
Aniruddha Bahal : i learnt on the job at india today


madayanw : bahal, you guys just rock!!!!how cannwe help you ?
Aniruddha Bahal : any hot story leads please post to editor@tehelka.com


MayB : hey great work anirudh
Aniruddha Bahal : thanks


bkc : I am saddened that high officials in defence act childish and are in for petty greed. Corruption is everywhere.Mr. Aniruddha why don't concentrate on corruption that occurs on a daily basis. I mean electricity, phone, gas, roads, sewers, water depts.
Aniruddha Bahal : i think u haven't been visiting r site regularly


srinivas : WHY HAVE YOU PEOPLE NOT RELEASED THE ENTIRE TAPE AT A TIME ? YOU WANTED TO RELEASE SOME AND MAKE MONEY BY THE RELEASE OF OTHERS ? IT WAS SAID THAT THE REST OF THE TAPE CONTAINS MORE DAMAGING EVIDENCE.IF THAT IS THE CASE THEN WHY DID U PEOPLE HIDE THAT TAPE ? WANNA MAKE MORE MONEY ?
Aniruddha Bahal : we are looking for a channel to air the film. our last film was too hot for any channel to have the guts to air it


MayB : keep up the good work but i dont think that this will decrease the corruption?
Aniruddha Bahal : don't be such a cynic


lakshmish : Kick that idiot Samual out of tehelka. It will improve your credibility.
Aniruddha Bahal : samuel is the king kong. he has a great news sense. he is to stay for a long time in tehelka


kameshten : somebody says its a cut and paste operation. Whats your reaction?
Aniruddha Bahal : bogus


cbk : Mr. Bahal: Why do you necessarily need a channel to air it in? How about putting the info on the net. Afterall you are a dot com??
Aniruddha Bahal : no bandwith


ramnaam : DOT- COMS WERE ALL ABOUT CONTENT ALWAYS HAVE BEEN- DO YOU THINK THAT YOU WOULD BE FRUSTRATED IN MORE TRADITIONAL MEDIA
Aniruddha Bahal : u r quite right. we were helped by the fact that journalists run tehelka.com


Najeeb : There is nothing wrong about having a business sense here..and I think, these people have done a great job. Keep up the good work..
Aniruddha Bahal : i love u najeeb


bkc : George Fernandez was probably the best Defence Minister India had. He took on the might of the Chinese. India now has a forward policy in engaging Vietnam and other south asian countries. Dont you feel that you are contributing towards Chinese hegemony in the world?
Aniruddha Bahal : get your facts right.


Romesh : How did you gain access to the power circles and made them to speak openly??
Aniruddha Bahal : their own greed made them vulnerable


Anu :  u knew ur lives were at stake with others who were involved with u..so u had to take each step very meticulously right....
Aniruddha Bahal : that's right. we took precautions against physical intimidation


dharmadhikari : Hi Aniruddha Bahal!First let me congratulate on such a wonderful job! I guess RAW should learn a lesson from u guys, what this has done is created more fear in other corrupt departments of India. Seems like the media is getting stronger in India now its upto to the common man to take it to next step.Do you have any opinions regarding how that can be achieved. Also this awareness in media should have come a long time but better late than never.!
Aniruddha Bahal : if the media stick to doing good stories it will get stronger


cbk : Mr. Bahal: It is great to note that your pushing the envelope on Investigative Journalism. Would like to have your views on the long term impact of these exposes. Do you think corruption will reduce/disappear? Or just that people are going to be more careful/
Aniruddha Bahal : i think they will be pushed to be more circumspect. also they might just see that its not worth it


agindian : Hai...anirudh ...now already you made solid money ...why don't come in US and enjoy ur life....actually everybody knows that's the only motto of ur investigation
Aniruddha Bahal : if only u knew my bank balance


Banjo : You said you were a journalist and not a politician. These could very well go hand in hand. Our PM was a journalist at one time
Aniruddha Bahal : not quite


dgupta : Point which I don't understand is how does it prove that the money givne to Jaya and Bangaru was used to influcence the defese deal
Aniruddha Bahal : they took the money with an intention to influence


Raj : Have you gus edited the tape?
Aniruddha Bahal : well, from roughly 100 hours of footage we edited a film of a 270 minute length


rajivshorey : I have been reading Tehelka from day one. Your coverage tends always to be anti-Indian. Your coverage of Bhuj earthquake where India rose as a nation to help, has ben despicable. You just wanted to highlight alleged discrimination in the relief ignoring all else.You have to answer the partisian charge ??
Aniruddha Bahal : the fact that u visit the site regularly means that u find something worthwhile on it. i guess that answers your question


ManishG : Mr Aniruddha, Why don't you show the entire footage to clear all doubts not just the edited version
Aniruddha Bahal : u mean 100 hours? who has that kind of time


srini : COMEON GUYS BAHAL CANNOT HAVE HIS OWN CHOICE OF ANSWERS HE HAVE TO ANSWER WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 2ND SET OF TAPES, DID HE SOLD THEM FOR MONEY??
Aniruddha Bahal : we haven't sold any tapes to the congress if that's what u r hinting at.


madayanw : hi bahal,how will you make sure..that like say people working for teheleka are non-biased reposrters?when you recruit do they undergo some rigourus screening?
Aniruddha Bahal : we have editors to check all stories


atulbhopale : If the tapes were edited who decides the editorial content. May be the guy has said something and u r quoting him out of context
Aniruddha Bahal : nobody was quoted out of context


sadhana : WHy do you think we should belive you and think you are not corrupt? pls explain
Aniruddha Bahal : why shouldn't u believe us


vrajesh : Aniruddha.. do somthing similar to this in Bihar.. with Laloo and family.. u will be swamped.. besides there will be murders too
Aniruddha Bahal : we shall think abnout it


nandank : Very important question: Did you guys find, during your 6 month (great) work, any officer/politician/.. who you cannot break. I mean a honest officer/politician you found honest.
Aniruddha Bahal : one. whose name we shall not take


Aniruddha Bahal : i am sorry i couldn't take all your questions. hope i get a chance once again


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