New Delhi: Tehelka said its hope to get justice through the Venkatswami Commission was dwindling after it on November 22 deferred its order till November 26 on the news portal's plea seeking recall of the government witnesses for deposition on financial aspects before considering any submissions.

Asking the Centre to set out clearly its stand on the financial aspect, Justice K Venkatswami said that on a careful consideration of the rival arguments on Tehelka's plea, it "is of the view that before pronouncing orders, it is appropriate to direct the Centre to file an affidavit setting out clearly its stand on the issue of 'financial aspect' vis-a-vis the investigation said to be going on".

However, expressing his unhappiness over the Commission's ruling, Tehelka managing editor Tarun Tejpal said their hope to get justice through this Commission was dwindling with government being successful in delaying the probe process.

The Commission, in its interim order, said, "Right from the beginning and even now, the government is consistently informing the Commission that investigations concerning 'financial aspect' and related assessment proceedings are still going on........it is necessary that the Centre should take a definite stand on the use of material gathered so far and to be gathered hereafter by the investigating team, while dealing with 'financial aspect'".

PTI