New Delhi: Describing London-based expert's opinion that their tapes are "original" as "big relief", Tehelka Managing Editor Tarun Tejpal today (June 21, 2004) demanded a compensation for "three-and-a-half years of victimisation" by the previous Government.

"Of course, it is a big relief. It is a shame that for the last three-and-a-half years, we have been victimised and we have lost everything. It only shows how a system resists every inquiry against it," Tejpal said.

Asserting that the portal and its shareholders such as First Global have suffered huge losses and were in debts, Tejpal, said, "I have written to the Prime Minister seeking changes in the way Tehelka Commission went about its duty and demanded compensation for their damages."

"The investigation procedure of the Commission going into the expose has been affected by the immoralities of the Government," he said, adding he wants a proper inquiry to get to the truth of the allegations of corruption in Defence deals.

"I have also demanded compensation for being victimised for last three-and-a-half years. The Government can constitute a committee of eminent persons to assess our damages and decide accordingly about the compensation," he added.