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Government may ask CBI
to probe Tehelka scandal

What is India News Service, Friday, October 2, 2004, 1700 hrs IST

The UPA government has decided not to extend the term of the Justice Phukan Commission probing the Tehelka revelations. The commission\92s term ends on November 2.

Authoritative sources said that instead of the commission, widely expected to give the accused, including former Defence Minister George Fernandes, a clean chit, the government would ask the CBI to register an FIR in order to investigate the scam revealed by Tehelka.

The decision not to extend the term of the commission is likely to snowball into a major confrontation with the Opposition. After Justice Venkatswami resigned, the NDA government had appointed Phukan. Even when the Phukan Commission was appointed, Tarun Tejpal, promoter of the website, had said that the commission was a farce and the website would not despose before it.

While in opposition the Congress had always demanded that an FIR be registered and the CBI investigate the defence scandal.

Twin blasts rock Nagaland; 18 killed: At least 17 people were killed and several others injured in twin bomb blasts at Dimapur railway station and the busy market place on Saturday, police said.

Lift sanctions against 2 scientists, India tells USA: India today conveyed to the United States that its blacklisting of two Indian scientists on charges of assisting in the Iranian nuclear programme was a clear case of error and demanded reversal of the decision, diplomatic sources told The Tribune.

SC defers hearing in Badal\92s case: The Supreme Court today deferred hearing on Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukbir Singh\92s petition, seeking quashing of the charges in the Rs 78 crore disproportionate assets case against them for want of sanction from competent authorities.

Lalu gets a rap for meddling with trial: The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Rashtriya Janata Dal leader, Lalu Prasad, to show cause why his bail in the Rs. 900-crore fodder scam cases should not be cancelled since he was allegedly interfering in the trial. Centre must reply, Lalu said in response.

SGPC team to visit shrine in Pakistan on Oct 5: Pakistan High Commissioner Aziz Ahmed Khan today told Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Bibi Jagir Kaur that the SGPC was free to send its delegation to Nankana Sahib \93anytime\94 for an assessment of the extent of damage to the historic gurdwara. 

Woman breaks air force glass ceiling: Air Marshal Padmavathy Bandopadhyay on Friday took charge as the Director-General Medical Services (Air). She is the first woman officer to reach such a senior post in the Indian Air Force.
 
States

Bengal wakes up to teacher drought: Ending an eight-year freeze, the government has decided to create 450 teaching posts in colleges across the state.

IUML struggling to contain dissidence: Pressure is mounting once again on the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leadership to devise strategies to contain dissidence.

Andhra, TN reach accord on Telugu Ganga: Andhra Pradesh has released 10,000 cusecs of water into the Telugu Ganga canal to meet the drinking water needs of Chennai, following an understanding the two states have reached.


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