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Tehelka journalist Aniruddha Bahal arrested; given bail

Onkar Singh in New Delhi

Investigation Editor of tehelka.com Aniruddha Bahal was given bail by a Delhi court on a personal bond of Rs 25,000 and a surety of the same amount on Wednesday, after he was arrested by the Delhi police following a Central Bureau of Investigation complaint that he had manhandled one of the officers of the investigating agency.

Metropolitan Magistrate Reena Singh Nag, who also asked Bahal to surrender his passport within a week, granted the bail.

Bahal's detention came a day after the Delhi police questioned two of the portal's employees in connection with the CBI complaint.

The two employees -- Ram Meher (guard) and Brij Bushan (accountant) -- were summoned by the police and questioned at length. CBI Deputy Superintendent of Police N S Kharayat, who is probing a case under the Official Secrets Act involving some journalists of the portal, had alleged that Bahal had abused and manhandled him, when he had gone to the tehelka.com office in connection with the probe on Monday.

Based on Kharayat's complaint the police had registered a case against Bahal under sections 186 (voluntarily obstructing a public servant in the discharge of his public function), 353 (assaulting or using criminal force to any person being a public servant in execution of his duty) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Kharayat had named some of the employees of tehelka as witness in his complaint.

Bahal has denied the charges.

Earlier, the Managing Editor of tehelka.com Tarun Tejpal said that Bahal has been picked up by the Delhi police without any warrant.

Speaking to rediff.com Tejpal had said that he is not aware under which section or case the Malviya Nagar police station team has picked up Bahal.

"Fifteen policemen from Malviya Nagar police station led by the Station House Officer came to our office a short while ago and picked up Aniruddha Bahal as we were settling down for work," Tejpal said.

"I have no clue why they have picked him up," Tejpal added.

Also See:
Bahal's chat with rediff.com

Complete Coverage of the Defence Scam

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