In its latest expose codenamed Operation West End, Tehelka filmed these bigwigs accepting monetary gratifications in the name of helping procure a defence deal.

While the BJP president accepted a "bribe" of Rs one lakh, Ms Jaitley took Rs 2 lakh. The former also demanded an additional $30,000. Among others whose name figured in one context or another included Prime Minister's principal secretary Brajesh Mishra, PM's foster son-in-law Ranjan Bhattacharjee, RSS trustee RK Gupta along with son Dipak Gupta and Samata Party treasurer RK Jain. Mr Gupta was the middleman in the Rs 36,000-crore Sukhoi deal, Tehelka claimed.

Mr Laxman has been shown as saying: "Our contact with the Prime Minister is Brajesh Mishra and Mishra is the contact between the PMO, bureaucracy and the party". The entire sordid saga on video tape was shown to the capital's mediapersons at a press conference arranged by Tehelka at a hotel on Tuesday.

The expose had the government reeling. Within hours of the disclosure, the prime minister called a meeting of his Cabinet. It was, however, not known what transpired at the Cabinet meeting. Both the Houses of Parliament were plunged in turmoil on getting to know about the expose and had to be adjourned within minutes after the opposition parties insisted on an immediate statement from the government.

Reacting to the issue, the Congress said that Tehalka had reproduced indisputable proof about the involvement of the prime minister and his principal secretary, apart from Mr Laxman, defence minister George Fernandes and Ms Jaya Jaitley and many other responsible persons of the Sangh Parivar.

"The government had no right to continue if it cannot refute the allegations," the Congress party said.

Congress spokesman Jaipal Reddy said in Parliament House that his party would not allow the two Houses to run until the government came out with a statement on the issue. The reaction from other opposition parties was on similar lines.

BJP chief Bangaru Laxman, when confronted with the expose, admitted having taken Rs one lakh. But he maintained that he had taken the money for the party. In his daily briefing, BJP parliamentary spokesman Vijay Malhotra skirted the query by merely saying that he had not seen the 30-hour tape.

Laxman resigns
Mr Bangaru Laxman on Tuesday night resigned as BJP president, party sources said. Mr Laxman, who was shown by Tehelka.com portal as accepting money for allegedly fixing a fictitious defence deal, took the decision to quit his post after a meeting with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the sources said. Mr Laxman is understood to have told the Prime Minister that he was willing to face any inquiry in the matter.

Pending the inquiry, he has taken the decision, the sources added. Mr Laxman, the first dalit president of the BJP.

(PTI)