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Press Council gives clean chit to Tehelka

"Corruption can never be exposed without using subterfuge. Even investigating agencies have to use such cover, including numbered currency notes, when they lay traps. These means are permissible under law," Sawant told a seminar on media and citizens' initiative on the Tehelka expose.

Stating that similar means had been used earlier in major exposes like Watergate, which rocked the United States of America in the early 70s, he said, "If the means were used ultimately in public interest, in social and national interest, then they are justified. That is the only touchstone."

On criticism by some people that the portal had intruded into the citizens' right to privacy, Sawant said, "The right to privacy has a limit. It ceases to be a right the moment it is used for anti-social activity. You cannot make bombs at your home and claim a right to privacy."

Individuals occupying public offices, he said, should maintain a consistency in their public and private lives.

Lauding the website's journalists for working for months together with "bare capital", Sawant said, "There is no reason why the society should not come forward and reward such organisations, who do excellent service to the nation."

The Press Council chief said western societies have reconciled to such exposes and their modus operandi.

"Ethics and law are clear about it. They do not prohibit use of any means to expose something in larger national interest," Sawant said.

He also defended the portal's sale of secretly filmed tapes to private television channels, describing it as the "fallout of an enterprising media."

"That was not their intention. They had not worked for months together with little money for that," he said, adding that it was necessary that the expose reached the maximum number of people so that they can act collectively.

Sawant said it will be a mistake if a political colour is given to the expose.

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