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Rediff.com  » News » No clean chit to Fernandes: Pranab

No clean chit to Fernandes: Pranab

Source: PTI
April 10, 2005 19:03 IST
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Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday clarified that no clean chit has been given to Janata Dal [United] leader and his predecessor George Fernandes in the Tehelka scam.

"There is no question of giving clean chit to any person, much less Mr George Fernandes," Mukherjee told newspersons in Kolkata, referring to the affidavit filed by the defence ministry before the Supreme Court.

He further said the affidavit did not even refer to or mention any person. "Therefore, the inference which is sought to be drawn that a clean chit has been given to Fernandes is unjustified and totally unwarranted."

He said an additional affidavit will be filed before the SC, as the amicus curiae in the case had pointed out that the affidavit had not covered a number of aspects.

Mukherjee, who faced the media for the first time since the controversy erupted last week, said he took full responsibility for the affidavit filed by his ministry.

To a query whether he was aware about the contents of the affidavit before it was filed, he simply said, "I wouldn't go beyond this, but I am responsible for it."

When Mukherjee's attention was drawn to demands raised by some Congress leaders that the affidavit should have been discussed by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs before it being filed, he said, "There are laid down procedures for discussions in the cabinet."

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