New Delhi: The Government has decided not to extend the term of the Tehelka Commission.

Announcing this at a press conference, Law Minister H R Bhardwaj today (Oct 4, 2004) said, an independent investigating agency would probe into Tehelka episode and the tapes as they reveal involvement of "personalities" in the Defence deals where bribery has been alleged.

The term of the Tehelka inquiry commission headed by Justice S N Phukan expired yesterday.

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs decided to go into the whole Tehelka tapes by an independent investigating agency as the previous Government has done nothing to investigate the "personalities" who were shown on the tape accepting bribe, the Minister said.

"We have informed the Commission that we are not interested in its continuance as the matter required to be probed by an independent investigating agency," he said.

The Minister said that CBI would investigate the matter as the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government had tried to "shield" the then Defence Minister George Fernandes, who resigned when the Tehelka episode came to public knowledge.

Hinting at Jaya Jaitley, Bhardwaj asked how could a private person function from the house of the then Defence Minister.

"The ministerial bungalow was used by a private person and why did the NDA Government not probe about its misuse," the Law Minister said.

Tehelka was a big event in the Indian politics and the then Government had no desire to probe into it and the personalities involved therein, he said.

"It wanted to delay the probe by raising questions about the veracity of the tapes and the motive of journalists in carrying out the sting operation.

"It wanted to shield the culprits", he said

The Government will be giving Tehelka tapes and documents to CBI which will examine in what circumstances the personalities came to be videotaped during the sting operation, Bhardwaj said.

Asked whether the agency will register an FIR, he said after examining the tapes, the CBI will decide the course to be adopted in the matter.