Question

Venkatswamy commission is related to

• A. Tehelka episode
• B. security scam
• C. constitutional reform
• D. none of these

Hint:

Recall which 2001 sting operation on defence deals led to a commission of inquiry.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

This question is about identifying the scandal that a particular commission of inquiry was set up to investigate.

1. Tehelka episode: In 2001, the news portal Tehelka ran a sting operation called Operation West End, using hidden cameras to expose bribery in defence deals. The government set up a commission of inquiry headed by Justice K. Venkataswami to look into the matter.
2. Security scam: The stock market and securities scam of the early 1990s, linked to Harshad Mehta, was probed through a different mechanism, a Joint Parliamentary Committee, not the Venkataswami Commission.
3. Constitutional reform: Constitutional review in this period was handled by a separate body, the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution, not by Justice Venkataswami's panel.
4. None of these: This is wrong since 'Tehelka episode' is the correct match.

The Venkataswami Commission was formed specifically to examine the Tehelka defence bribery tapes matter, so that is the event it is tied to.

Let's summarize:

• The Tehelka sting of 2001 exposed alleged bribery in defence procurement.
• Justice K. Venkataswami headed the commission set up to inquire into this episode.

The correct answer is option (1), Tehelka episode.