CNN-IBN, the television channel which conducted the sting operation, did not air the controversial tapes on Tuesday. Instead, the channel's Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai went to Parliament on Wednesday and personally handed over the tapes.
Though political parties across the spectrum want the tapes made public, Sardesai told Onkar Singh that the channel chose not to air the footage because its investigation was not complete.
BJP leader L K Advani said though you had the tapes, you did not telecast them. Why?
In journalism, we do not go by politicians' will. We do our job.
When did you hand over the tapes?
The tapes were delivered to the Speaker's office at 5.30 in the evening and we got a formal acceptance letter from his office.
Why did you delay handing over the CD to the Speaker's office or the local police?
We were waiting for the Constitutional authority to approach us so that the tapes could be handed over to them. We finally handed over the tapes to the Speaker's office at 5:30 pm.
Did you supervise the story?
My two reporters did the job. I may have had a look.