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The idea of exposing defence deals came to me after the Bharatpur fire in an army depot. There were lots of rumours of why the fire had happened. I said to myself that some probe should be done.
After the Bofors scandal, nothing happened. So to expose the defence services, the only way was to use insiders to get details of percentages, commissions and everything that went with it.
We decided to work from the inside. We started in August 2000 on the investigation. We worked our way upwards. We started from the lowest section officer in the ministry of defence. Then we worked our way up to brigadiers and generals.
Then we got to the middlemen. They talked about their former deals with ease. We approached them to push our fictitious products. They told us confidently that they would handle the bureaucrats, the army and the politicians for us. They made it clear that for everything there was a fee. We of course, did not pay. We would pretend that we would pay ultimately.
Then we finally got to the politicians.
Everyday, we would think we would get exposed. We are surprised we lasted so long. Eight full months.
We ended up spending around over a million rupees paying off people. If we had five million rupees, we could have ripped the system apart. Have you heard of any media organisation in India which has spend like this on any story?
As it is, we broke the record in spending over one story. You cannot do great journalism if you listen to accountants and lawyers. Soon, there will be obvious denials. But it is all in the tapes. How long can they continue denying it.
Bangaru Laxman has told you that he did not ask for dollars. But it is all on tape.
It would be good for the health of the democracy if those who are guilty are brought to book. Like the defence minister. I cannot see them surviving. It would be a slap on Indian democarcy if they survive.
My colleague Mathew Samuel is unparalleled. I have not seen a digger like him. Above everything else, we have proved that dotcom journalism is alive and thriving.
Aniruddha Bahal, the Tehelka.com correspondent who lead the investigation, spoke to Ramesh Menon.
RELATED REPORTS Tehelka lifts lid off defence deals Bangaru says he took money for the party 'For the country, there is now reason to worry'
EXTERNAL LINK: The Tehelka Transcripts
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