NEW DELHI, Feb 4 (UNI) Justice S N Phukan probing the alleged corruption in defence deals today submitted to the prime minister part I of his report that looks into 15 defence transactions, including Sukhoi, Advanced Jet Trainers and T-90 tanks, from 1981-2000.
"This part, based on 507 secret files, 26 witnesses and some affidavits, deals only with the issue whether due procedures were followed in these transactions," Phukan told an impromtu press conference.
Part II, which will deal with corruption and involvement of middlemen, will be submitted in June-July and part III later, he said.
Asked whether defence minister George Fernandes had been exonerated in the report, he said, "No comments." "I have submitted my report to the government.
And I personally feel that the recommendations should be accepted." Justice Phukan said he was of the view that the public should not be kept in the dark about what he had suggested in his report.
"The public should know what I have recommended...." Retired Supreme Court justice S N Phukan was on January 4, 2003 appointed to head the Commission of inquiry looking into the Tehelka expose of alleged corruption in defence deals.
Justice Phukan, who hails from Assam and retired in 2002, replaced justice K Venkataswamy, who resigned in the wake of a controversy over his simultaneous appointment as chairman of the authority on advance rulings on customs and excise.
